State-backed IMF cyber assaults alleged, according to a newly released report
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) suffered a significant cyberattack earlier this year, as revealed by the organisation to its staff on Wednesday. The breach, which occurred over several months, predates the accusations against former IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn for sexual assault.
According to an internal email, an employee's desktop was compromised, and this compromised desktop was used to access sensitive documents. The targeted data included financial and economic information, highlighting the hackers' interest in such valuable data.
A source familiar with the matter declined to be identified, stating that the details of the breach are still under investigation. The UK Chancellor, George Osborne, has revealed that the Treasury is subject to daily cyber attacks, more than any other government department.
The 2016 cyberattack on the IMF was attributed to state-sponsored hackers linked to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) by the U.S. government and cybersecurity experts. The attackers used sophisticated spear-phishing campaigns and supply chain attacks to infiltrate high-value international organisations like the IMF, with the aim of exfiltrating confidential information for espionage, influence activities, or political leverage.
Bloomberg News reported that the leaked data from the attack was substantial. Furthermore, France's finance ministry was also compromised at the end of last year, although the extent of the breach is not yet clear. The official who spoke to The Times described the IMF breach as "a very major breach."
As the investigation continues, it is crucial for organisations to remain vigilant against such cyber threats and take necessary measures to protect sensitive data.
- The sophisticated spear-phishing campaigns and supply chain attacks reported in the IMF cyberattack serve as a reminder for organizations to prioritize cybersecurity measures, especially when dealing with sensitive data like financial and economic information.
- In the realm of general-news, the crime-and-justice sector is increasingly at risk as state-sponsored hackers have been linked to intrusions in international organizations such as the IMF, exposing valuable data and jeopardizing national security.
