Microsoft Says Over<br />40 Organizations Were Targeted by<br />Suspected Russian Intelligence Hack.<br />On Thursday, Microsoft <br />president Brad Smith spoke out <br />about the latest cyber breach.<br />Smith said that more than 17,000<br />customers installed the malware-infected<br />third-party software sold by SolarWinds. .<br />From there, the hackers were able<br />to “pick and choose” companies<br />they wanted to attack further. .<br />According to Smith, more than 40 Microsoft customers<br />were “significantly impacted” by the hack. .<br />Microsoft has identified and<br />has been working this week<br />to notify more than 40 customers<br />that the attackers targeted more<br />precisely and compromised through<br />additional and sophisticated measures, Brad Smith, via statement.<br />80 percent of the affected<br />Microsoft customers are in the<br />United States, with the remaining<br />victims in seven other countries. .<br />Smith said, "it's a certainty <br />that the number and location <br />of victims will keep growing.".<br />Initially, the attack was believed to have been<br />mainly targeted at government agencies.<br />While 18 percent of the victims are in<br />the government sector, 44 percent are <br />in the information technology sector. .<br />This includes software firms, IT services<br />and equipment providers.<br />An additional 18 percent are in think tanks<br />and non-government organizations, and 9 percent<br />are in the government contractor sector. .<br />The attack unfortunately<br />represents a broad and<br />successful espionage-based<br />assault on both the confidential<br />information of the U.S.<br />Government and the tech tools<br />used by firms to protect them, <br />Brad Smith, via statement
