Microsoft has recently revealed that the Russian hackers who hacked their systems and spied on their staff inboxes earlier have also stolen emails from its customers. The tech giant disclosed this around six months after the intrusion was made. The disclosure by Microsoft highlights the extent of the breach as Microsoft is now starting to face more and more regulatory scrutiny over the security of its software and the systems that it has in place against foreign threats. This increased significantly after last year when a group of alleged Chinese hackers breached Microsoft’s security last year and stole thousands of US government emails.
The Russian authorities never officially responded to the Microsoft hacking allegations, but the tech giant reported that the hackers targeted cybersecurity researchers who were investigating the activities of the Russian hacking group.
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A Microsoft spokesperson said, “This week we are continuing notifications to customers who corresponded with Microsoft corporate email accounts that were exfiltrated by the Midnight Blizzard threat actor.”
Microsoft stated that it was sharing the compromised emails with its customers but did not specify the number of customers affected or the quantity of emails stolen.
“This is increased detail for customers who have already been notified and also includes new notifications. We’re committed to sharing information with our customers as our investigation continues,” the spokesperson said.
Micrsoft Hacking Issue Persisting
In January, the world’s largest software vendor revealed that Midnight Blizzard had accessed “a very small percentage” of its corporate email accounts. Four months later, it reported that the hackers were still attempting to breach their systems, causing concern among security industry peers and customers about the continued vulnerability of Microsoft’s systems.
These incidents, along with the Chinese hack last year, led to a Congressional hearing earlier this month, during which Microsoft President Brad Smith announced the company’s efforts to overhaul its security practices.