(Update with more information)
Por Christopher Bing
WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (Reuters) – A group of hackers believed to be working for Russia stole information from the U.S. Treasury Department and a U.S. agency responsible for making decisions about the Internet and telecommunications, according to people familiar with the matter.
In the US intelligence community, there is concern that hackers who attacked the Treasury Department and the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration may have used a similar tool to access other government agencies, according to three people asked about the topic.
Three of the people familiar with the investigation said Russia is believed to be behind the attack.
Two of the people said the attacks are connected to a campaign that also involves the recently discovered attack on FireEye FEYE.O, a large cybersecurity company with commercial and government contracts.
“The United States government is aware of these reports and we are taking all necessary steps to identify and remedy any possible issues related to this situation,” said John Ullyot, spokesman for the National Security Council.
The breakthrough is so serious that it led to a National Security Council meeting at the White House on Saturday, said one of the people familiar with the matter. (Reporting by Christopher Bing; edited in Spanish by Gabriel Burin and Juana Casas)
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