» Here's a simple explanation of how the massive SolarWinds hack happened and why it's such a big deal Here's a simple explanation of how the massive SolarWinds hack happened and why it's such a big deal Isabella JibilianFeb 25, 2021, 22:25 IST SolarWinds Corp. banner hangs at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on the IPO day of the company in New York.Reuters/Brendan McDermid SolarWinds was the subject of a massive cybersecurity attack that spread to the company's clients. Major firms like Microsoft and top government agencies were attacked, and sensitive data was exposed. Here's a simple explanation of what happened and why it's important.