SolarWinds hackers breached NASA and Federal Aviation Administration networks

NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration have been named in reports as the previously undisclosed governmental agencies breached in the massive SolarWinds attack.

The Washington Post named the two organisations this week after the other hacked networks had been identified as the Departments of Commerce, Energy, Homeland Security, Justice and State, the Treasury and the National Institutes of Health, reports state.

If true, NASA and the FAA joins a long list of organisations breached in the SolarWinds attack, which include Microsoft, FireEye and Malwarebytes.

The hack was discovered at the end of 2020. The hackers created a backdoor into SolarWinds’ software, enabling them to access the networks of thousands of customers using the solution. The breach is believed to have been Russian in origin, although the country denies any involvement.

The Biden administration is expected to introduce sanctions in response to the hack. The SolarWinds attack is one of several hacks that have happened over the last year that highlight the importance of cybersecurity for businesses.