FBI Probes Cyber Breach of Surveillance Data System

Federal investigators are looking into a sophisticated cyber attack on an FBI computer network containing sensitive surveillance information. The breach, discovered on February 17, involved an unknown perpetrator using advanced methods to access law enforcement data including phone monitoring records.

WASHINGTON — Federal investigators are examining a cyber security breach targeting an FBI computer network that stores sensitive surveillance data and investigation materials.

According to a congressional notification obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday, the bureau is working to assess how extensive the breach was and what damage may have resulted. The document indicates an unidentified attacker employed advanced methods to bypass the FBI’s network security measures.

Bureau officials discovered unusual activity logs on February 17 that prompted the investigation into their network systems.

The congressional notification, reviewed by The Associated Press, explained that the compromised network is unclassified but holds law enforcement sensitive materials. This includes data from court-authorized surveillance methods like pen register and trap-and-trace monitoring, as well as personal information about individuals under FBI investigation.

Pen register surveillance allows law enforcement agencies to record phone numbers that are dialed from a specific telephone line.

While the FBI acknowledged the cyber incident occurred, officials provided limited information in their public response.

“The FBI identified and addressed suspicious activities on FBI networks, and we have leveraged all technical capabilities to respond,” bureau officials stated. “We have nothing additional to respond.”

The notification to Congress did not reveal who investigators suspect may be behind the attack, though the FBI and other government agencies frequently face cyber threats from foreign hackers attempting to gather intelligence on sensitive operations and internal processes.

In this case, investigators determined the attackers used advanced techniques, including exploiting a commercial internet service provider’s infrastructure to circumvent the FBI’s network security systems.