‘Russians invaded White House network via phishing email’

Russian attackers allegedly entered the White House via a phishing email from the State Department. CNN reports that, which also reports that the hackers did get their hands on sensitive information, contrary to what they thought.

The alleged Russian hackers allegedly sent a phishing email to the White House from a hijacked State Department email account, CNN reports, based on statements from government officials.

It was already known that the White House had been squatted. Until now, the US government has maintained that no sensitive information has been stolen because it is stored on a separate computer system. However, according to CNN, sensitive information was made accessible to the attackers, such as the detailed agenda of the US president. While that information is not a state secret, it is “highly sensitive and sought after by foreign intelligence services,” CNN said.

Government officials told the news channel that the attack is “one of the most sophisticated attacks ever” targeting a US government. Although the attackers would have tried to cover their tracks, researchers believe that hackers working for the Russian government are behind the attack.

The Russians would also have hacked the network of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, probably in order to be able to send the phishing email. Months after the attack was discovered, the ministry is still unsure whether the attackers have been successfully repelled.