The fallout from a major hacking campaign, believed to be conducted by Russia, continues to grow. In a blog post, Microsoft said that it was one of the numerous organizations that were using malware-infected software from SolarWinds. The company said that its IT management software was infected with malware, which allowed hackers to gain access to the computer systems of over 18,000 organizations around the world, including several U.S. government agencies.
Microsoft said it removed the malware from its systems and has identified more than 40 customers using its Defender Anti-Virus software that were infected with the malware. The company said it expects the number of victims to grow as it continues to investigate the massive hack.
"It's certain that the number and location of victims will keep growing," Microsoft President Brad Smith wrote. "Additional analysis sheds added light on the breadth of these attacks. The initial list of victims includes not only government agencies but security and other technology firms as well as non-governmental organizations."
Microsoft called on the United States to work with other countries to put a stop to bad actors launching cyberattacks around the globe.
"The new year creates an opportunity to turn a page on recent American unilateralism and focus on the collective action that is indispensable to cybersecurity protection. The United States did not win World War II, the Cold War, or even its own independence by fighting alone," Smith wrote. "In a world where authoritarian countries are launching cyberattacks against the world's democracies, it is more important than ever for democratic governments to work together – sharing information and best practices, and coordinating not just on cybersecurity protection but on defensive measures and responses."
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