By Tom Moore
Dec 22, 2020
(Kent) - The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Kent State University is one of at least 24 organizations using software that contains malicious code written by Russian hackers. The software was SolarWinds Orion.
In a written statement, Kent State says they are aware of the situation and are evaluating what they call a serious matter. Kent State is not saying what information or systems were affected.
The Journal reports this allowed the hackers in via a covertly inserted backdoor. It gave them potential access to much sensitive corporate and personal data.
Companies identified by the Journal as having been affected include Cisco Systems, Intel Corp., Deloitte LLP, and Belkin International. Also affected was the California Department of State Hospitals.
Companies affected include Cisco, Intel, Nvidia, VMware, Deloitte, and Belkin International, in addition to California Department of State Hospitals and Kent State University, the WSJ found. Analysis revealed infected machines at 24 organizations that downloaded infected versions of SolarWinds Orion network management software, which had a backdoor installed in a routine update.
Cisco detected the malicious software on some employee systems and lab systems; so far, it says there is no effect on its products or services. Intel is investigating and has said there is no indication attackers accessed its network. Similarly, the other organizations affected confirm they detected the infected software but there is no indication attackers have exploited it.
Ohio University Systems Left Vulnerable in Software Breach
Kent State University was identified as one of the organizations that was potentially hacked during a widespread software breach, and according to an analysis, hackers may have had access to Kent State’s systems for more than a year. by Robin Goist, cleveland.com / December 22, 2020 Kent State University s systems were potentially hacked as part of a widespread software breach that affected at least two dozen organizations, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis. Emily Bamforth, cleveland.com
(TNS) Kent State University is among 24 organizations identified by the Wall Street Journal as having software on its computers that gave hackers potential access to data.
SolarWinds hack also affected a hospital, major tech companies
Ewdison Then - Dec 22, 2020, 12:06am CST
Back in the days, hacking attempts and data breaches often got away with personal user information. While the security and privacy implications of such incidents are grave, they don’t often have life-threatening consequences. These days, nothing is sacred, and even hospitals and healthcare facilities can become the targets of such activities. The most recent example is the scandalous SolarWinds exploit that has gone beyond just US government agencies and megacorporations, creating backdoors into at least one identified university and one hospital.
Of course, given the huge list of SolarWinds’ customers, that’s not exactly surprising. The IT management firm serves hundreds of fortune 500 companies as well as key US government offices. It isn’t a surprise, then, that Ken State University, as well as the California Department of State Hospitals, are inclu
Intel, Cisco, VMware victim of big SolarWinds hack: Report
Intel, Cisco, VMware victim of big SolarWinds hack: Report
Last Updated: Tue, Dec 22nd, 2020, 09:27:06hrs
San Francisco, Dec 22 (IANS) At least 24 big companies including tech giants like Intel, Cisco, VMware and Nvidia are part of the SolarWinds hack allegedly orchestrated by Russia-backed cybercriminals, the media reported.
The suspected Russian hackers installed a malware in the Orion software sold by the IT management company SolarWinds, and accessed sensitive data belonging to several US government agencies, at least one hospital and a university, reports Wall Street Journal.
The report said on Monday that several tech companies also suffered data breach in this massive hack operation.