The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has declared a 'major incident' following a cyberattack on a standalone system that is not connected to its main network. This system reportedly contained sensitive information related to ongoing investigations. The Qilin ransomware gang has claimed responsibility for the attack, although they have not provided evidence of the breach.
This incident adds to a growing list of federal agencies that have reported major cybersecurity breaches in recent years, including attacks on the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI. Under federal law, such incidents must be disclosed to Congress within a week of discovery, highlighting the increasing threat of cyberattacks to national security and government operations.