Cybersecurity

GAO: Nation-state hackers biggest threat to federal networks

Federal networks are under constant cyberattack from adversaries that range from young hacktivists looking to make a point — and a name — to organized criminal groups interested in financial gain and terrorist activities.

But, according to researchers at the Government Accountability Office, the biggest threat to the government’s most high-impact systems comes from nation-state sponsored hackers and groups.

This was readily apparent last year, when the Office of Personnel Management discovered hackers — widely attributed as associated with the Chinese government — had breached a database holding highly sensitive information on more than 21.5 million Americans.