The FBI is currently looking into a cyber breach on its computer network, which involved a computer system used to investigate child sexual exploitation images.
Sources briefed about the situation say that the FBI already contained the hacking, but the nature of the hacking is still being probed.
Hacking Involved High-Profile FBI Office
A WYFF report tells us that the FBI New York Field Office, one of the organization's largest and most high-profile outposts, was involved in the recent malicious cyber activity.
FBI officials have already isolated the incident, and an investigation is still underway. In a statement, the FBI acknowledged being aware of the incident and stated that it sought more details.
The FBI Is Not Immune to Cyber Attacks
Like any major government or business organization, the FBI was exposed to a number of cyber threats in the past. One cyber issue involving the FBI occurred in November 2021 when unknown entities sent fake emails with a supposed cyber threat to thousands of organizations using a real FBI email address.
The hackers were able to send emails to more than 100,000 addresses, all of which were from the American Registry for Internet Numbers or ARIN database.
Although the FBI has not officially identified a suspect, it did say that it rectified a software flaw connected to the event.
After the event in November, there were worries that a hacker may use the FBI's prominent position in alerting the public to hacking incidents to confuse people and make organizations panic over a false hacking threat.
In late 2020, hackers with ties to Russian intelligence infiltrated a wide variety of federal networks in an effort to steal sensitive information. In March 2021, the security cameras of the FBI were hacked.
Additionally, the federal government's human resources department admitted in 2015 that sensitive employee data had been compromised due to a breach. After the incident, hackers from China were blamed for the OPM hack.
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The FBI's Role Against Cyber Threats
The FBI has a cyber division that looks into and stops cybercrime, such as network and computer attacks, hacking, and other cyber threats. The FBI has investigated and dismantled numerous cybercriminal groups in recent years that have stolen millions of dollars from companies and individuals.
The FBI has also been instrumental in the fight against internet child exploitation. The Innocent Images National Initiative of the FBI focuses on identifying and pursuing those responsible for creating, disseminating, and possessing child pornography. Hundreds of children have been rescued from abusive situations, and their abusers have been imprisoned thanks to the campaign.
The FBI's cyber division has formed collaborations with other law enforcement agencies, for-profit businesses, and academic institutions to share information and battle cyber threats. The FBI also offers them information and training to assist people and businesses in defending themselves against cyber dangers.
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