Microsoft Exchange email hack was caused by China, US says

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By ERIC TUCKER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Monday blamed China for a hack of Microsoft Exchange email server software that compromised tens of thousands of computers around the world earlier this year.

The administration and allied nations also disclosed a broad range of other cyberthreats from Beijing, including ransomware attacks from government-affiliated hackers that have targeted companies with demands for millions of dollars.

China’s Ministry of State Security has been using criminal contract hackers, who have engaged in cyber extortion schemes and theft for their own profit, according to a senior administration official. That official briefed reporters about the investigation on the condition of anonymity.

The announcements highlighted the ongoing cyberthreat posed by Chinese government hackers even as the administration has been consumed with trying to curb ransomware attacks from Russia-based syndicates that have targeted critical infrastructure, including a massive fuel pipeline.



FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2020, file photo, a Microsoft computer is among items displayed at a Microsoft store in suburban Boston. The Biden administration on Monday, July 19, 2021, blamed China for a hack of Microsoft Exchange email server software that compromised tens of thousands of computers around the world earlier in the year. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-exchange-hack-biden-china-d533f5361cbc3374fdea58d3fb059f35

[Crazyleftie]

1. The cyberwarfare age is upon us

and it won't be just Russia and China attacking us.

[lonely bird]

2. There is no such thing as cybersecurity

Russia, China, Iran and, oh, yes, the United States does it. What we are seeing is the rest of the world catching up to the U.S. in cyber espionage.

You want security? Paper and ink is much more secure.

[twodogsbarking]

3. None of your personal or medical information has been compromised.

That always cracks me up.

[Javaman]

4. as I have said many times here on DU

We have been actively involved in cyber war for the past 10 years.

it was only after the solar winds hack that things came out in the open.

we attack them as much as they attack us.

but the difference is, we have an open society that reports on this stuff happening while china, russia, iran, and north korea are closed states and will not say anything about if they have been hacked.

listen to Darknet Diaries podcast. it's very informative.

[RainCaster]

5. Blame China for the poor quality of Microsoft products

So China exploited the faults, but truly, the poor quality of the Microsoft mail system is the culprit here. Let's put the blame where it belongs.

[Tommymac]

7. Really? Bwaaaahaaahaaa

I have contracted for several Fortune 500 Corporations, they all use Microsoft Exchange in very large Enterprises (+50,000 users) and they all have robust, reliable and secure mail systems. I know. I am a MS Professional with 25+ years experience.

I've also worked with other systems, such as Lotus back in the day, which didn't quite measure up then, and quite frankly the modern MS mail platform is awesome in it's capabilities when set up correctly. Very high quality product, almost cutting edge in some implementations.

ANY IT system is vulnerable when Government sponsored cracking is involved. Not poor quality of the product, mostly poor implementations by people who don't quite know what they are doing.

[GB_RN]

6. MS. SMH.

Windows Registry, the backbone of the OS makes it a security nightmare. Microsoft promised years ago, for Windows 7, to get rid of the registry, but then didn't...it's still there. And people wonder why Windows gets hacked so easily.

Yes, I know that Windows isn't Exchange (Exchange is the corporate email server).

I used to be a Windows guy. Back in my IT days, I was a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer for Windows 2000, and was a huge fan of Windows XP, and Windows 7. But they came out with Windows 8 (and 10) which to me, just sucked - and continued with the security nightmare of the registry. So, when I needed a new laptop for school, I went Apple, and have never looked back. Easier, more stable and more secure. And you get OS updates/support for far longer than what MS gives you, for free.

[Ford_Prefect]

8. Wasn't it such a very smart idea to off-shore our major industries and critical resources?

Last edited Mon Jul 19, 2021, 01:32 PM - Edit history (1)

We have no one to blame except Wall Street, the Banksters and their enablers in Congress and the White House.