Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) says the email accounts of several senior executives were hacked by a Russian intelligence group.
After the close of markets on Jan. 19, Microsoft announced that Nobelium, the same Russian group that breached government supplier SolarWinds (NYSE:SWI) in 2020, had gained access to the emails of the company’s senior leadership team.
In a written statement, Microsoft said that it doesn’t believe the cyberattack had a material effect on its operations, though it is still investigating the matter.
Email accounts that were accessed by the Russian hackers include Chief Financial Offer (CFO) Amy Hood and President Brad Smith, each of whom have close contact with Microsoft Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Satya Nadella.
Microsoft said it has not found any evidence that customer data, production systems, or proprietary source codes were accessed by the hackers.
The U.S. government views Nobelium as part of the Russian foreign intelligence service “SVR.”
Nobelium, also known by the nickname “Cozy Bear,” is a sophisticated hacking group that has attempted to breach the U.S. Department of Defense.
Nobelium was also implicated in the 2016 breach of the Democratic National Committee’s computer systems.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been brought in by Microsoft to help with the investigation into the email account breach.
The stock of Microsoft has risen 64% in the last 12 months to trade at $398.67 U.S. per share.
