Cybersecurity

Elite Russian Hackers Claim To Have Breached Three Major U.S. Antivirus Makers

There's a never-ending game of cat and mouse between cybercriminals and the companies that develop anti-malware software. For three U.S.-based providers, it could get a lot more challenging. A group of elite Russian hackers claims to have infiltrated their networks and stolen the source code for their software.

Researchers with Advanced Intelligence (AdvIntel) have been tracking the activity of the group on underground forums for some time. The hackers, who operate under the handle Fxmsp, have an established reputation for infiltrating well-protected networks. Their targets typically include highly-sensitive corporate and government information.

Two months ago AdvIntel saw Fxmsp reappear on hacking forums after a half-year hiatus. It's probably no coincidence that the group reported that its campaign against security software firms had kicked off six months earlier.

Fxmsp laid low until it had achieved its goal. When its stealth operation concluded, the hackers allegedly made off with more than 30 terabytes of data from their latest victims. They posted screenshots showing folders, files, and source code.