Cybersecurity Company FireEye Believes It Was Hacked By A Foreign Government

Topline

FireEye, a firm tasked with defending clients against cyberattacks, was itself targeted by a sophisticated attack it believes to be the work of a foreign government, the company said Tuesday afternoon — and U.S. investigators are reportedly eyeing Russia as a likely offender.

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“Recently, we were attacked by a highly sophisticated threat actor, one whose discipline, operational security, and techniques lead us to believe it was a state-sponsored attack,” Mandia wrote in a statement.

What To Watch For

FireEye said it is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and private sector partners to investigate this breach. An FBI spokesperson confirmed to Forbes it is investigating, adding that the perpetrator appears to be “an actor with a high level of sophistication consistent with a nation state.” 

Key Background

Founded in 2004, FireEye counts almost 10,000 customers worldwide, including large companies and government agencies. It sells network security software, offers consulting services and helps its clients respond to security breaches.

Tangent

In recent years, Russia has repeatedly been accused of carrying out high-profile cyberattacks. Foreign governments are often the primary target: In 2016, Russian actors were accused of breaching the Democratic National Committee’s servers and leaking stolen emails to WikiLeaks ahead of the U.S. presidential election that year. Private companies also sometimes fall victim to these attacks. The U.S. Department of Justice charged Russian intelligence officers in October with carrying out the infamous NotPetya ransomware attack, a 2017 campaign against businesses worldwide that was responsible for more than $10 billion in damages.

Further Reading

U.S. Cyber Firm FireEye Says It Was Breached by Nation-State Hackers (Wall Street Journal)