CLASSIFIED: TOP SECRET - NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE JANUARY 2021

SUBJECT: RUSSIAN HACKINGS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSETS

Throughout 2020, the United States received intelligence that Russian hackers have infiltrated secure government databases and servers, including those located in The Pentagon, the Intelligence Community, the US Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security, the Commerce Department, and Health and Human Services. Within the servers affected, 18,000 US organizations had malicious code in their networks; 50 of them suffered major breaches.

As of the 13th of December, when this knowledge was made known to US officials, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been working tirelessly to secure networks and alleviate any vulnerabilities in the systems that were affected. Russia has denied responsibility for such hackings.

This hacking poses a major threat to US cybersecurity, as it is one of the most significant hackings in modern history. The Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and CISA have urged Congress to take action against this emerging threat. In response, Congress has introduced the following piece of legislation, named after an essential cybersecurity tool: A Bill to C.A.P.T.C.H.A. (Create a Procedure to Combat Hacker Attacks).

It is your responsibility as Congress to come to a decision on this legislation before more damage is done.

Christopher Miller, Acting

Source: https://s3.amazonaws.com/tabroom-files/tourns/16458/postings/23658/Sunvite2021FinalsBriefing1.pdf

CLASSIFIED: TOP SECRET - NOT FOR PUBLIC RELEASE JANUARY 2021

SUBJECT: RUSSIAN HACKINGS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ASSETS

Throughout 2020, the United States received intelligence that Russian hackers have infiltrated secure government databases and servers, including those located in The Pentagon, the Intelligence Community, the US Treasury, the Department of Homeland Security, the Commerce Department, and Health and Human Services. Within the servers affected, 18,000 US organizations had malicious code in their networks; 50 of them suffered major breaches.

As of the 13th of December, when this knowledge was made known to US officials, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has been working tirelessly to secure networks and alleviate any vulnerabilities in the systems that were affected. Russia has denied responsibility for such hackings.

This hacking poses a major threat to US cybersecurity, as it is one of the most significant hackings in modern history. The Department of Defense, Homeland Security, and CISA have urged Congress to take action against this emerging threat. In response, Congress has introduced the following piece of legislation, named after an essential cybersecurity tool: A Bill to C.A.P.T.C.H.A. (Create a Procedure to Combat Hacker Attacks).

It is your responsibility as Congress to come to a decision on this legislation before more damage is done.

Christopher Miller, Acting