Sen. Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenSenate Democrat says cyberattack on Treasury ‘appears to be significant’ Hillicon Valley: Barr says Russia appears to be behind massive hack | billion for broadband in end-of-year package | Apple to close California stores Coronavirus relief package includes billion for broadband MORE (D-Ore.) said on Monday that a cyberattack at the Department of Treasury reported by media outlets last week “appears to be significant.”
Wyden, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, released the statement after the committee’s staff was briefed by the Treasury Department and the IRS about the hack of the IT company SolarWinds.
The Oregon senator said the IRS reported “no evidence that IRS was compromised or taxpayer data was affected,” but he added, “The hack of the Treasury Department appears to be significant.”
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“According to Treasury staff, the agency suffered a serious breach, beginning in July, the full depth of which isn’t known,” Wyden said. “Microsoft notified the agency that dozens of email accounts were compromised.”
“Additionally the hackers broke into systems in the Departmental Offices division of Treasury, home to the department’s highest-ranking officials,” he added. “Treasury still does not know all of the actions taken by hackers, or precisely what information was stolen.”
Wyden then slammed government officials who have been “advocating for encryption backdoors, and ignoring warnings from cybersecurity experts who said that encryption keys become irresistible targets for hackers.”
The Oregon Democrat’s statement follows reports from media outlets that several federal agencies were hacked this year through the cyberattack on SolarWinds. According to The Washington Post, the cyberattack was conducted by a Russian military intelligence group called “Cozy Bear.”
Last week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency gave an emergency order for federal departments to stop using SolarWinds products.
Wyden and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck GrassleyChuck GrassleySenate Democrat says cyberattack on Treasury ‘appears to be significant’ Negotiators resolve last-minute issues as COVID-relief bill moves toward finish line Hillicon Valley: Lawmakers ask whether massive hack amounted to act of war | Microsoft says systems were exposed in massive SolarWinds hack | Senators push to keep tech liability shield out of UK trade agreement MORE (R-Iowa) requested the IRS brief the committee on whether sensitive taxpayer information was suspected to have been leaked in the hack.
Wyden also partnered with Senate Banking Committee ranking member Sherrod BrownSherrod Campbell BrownSenate Democrat says cyberattack on Treasury ‘appears to be significant’ Fight over Federal Reserve powers holding up year-end deal Senators request IRS briefing on SolarWinds hack MORE (D-Ohio) to call on Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven MnuchinCongress passes .3T coronavirus relief, government funding deal House passes massive spending deal, teeing up Senate vote Senate Democrat says cyberattack on Treasury ‘appears to be significant’ MORE to provide more information on the breach of the department.