THE HILL WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015 11

news
Russian hackers got the presidents
schedule in White House cyberattack
Intruders had info on Obama
that wasnt publicly available
By Elise Viebeck

Russian hackers who hit the White House in-

getty images

Hackers broke into unclassified computer systems last year and were able
to view nonpublic information about President Obamas schedule.

filtrated an unclassified computer system and

apparently accessed details about President
Obamas schedule.
While the White House previously sought to
downplay the seriousness of the hack, which
took place last year, the intruders were able to
see information about the president that was
not publicly available, CNN reported Tuesday.
Officials briefed on the investigation told CNN
that the incident was connected to a Russian cyberattack that also breached the State Departments network.
The breach of Obamas schedule is notable because the White House maintains tight control
over information about the presidents activities.
While a general outline of the days events is
available to the press, Obama takes many meetings and phone calls throughout the day that are
not publicly disclosed.
The presidents precise whereabouts are also
not always known, and the press pool that covers Obama on a daily basis is restricted from accessing many parts of the White House building
and grounds.
Intimate knowledge of Obamas activities
would be valuable to foreign intelligence agen-

cies such as Russias.

Officials with knowledge of the investigation
told CNN that Russian hackers were able to break
into the White House system through their foothold within networks at the State Department.
The intrusion began when hackers sent what
is known as a phishing email from a State Department account, infecting a White House
computer with malware, the investigators said.
The State Department has been battling its
own highly sophisticated cyber intrusion for
months, though exactly which portions of its
network remain breached is unclear.
Private security experts had suspected there
was a link between the State Department and
White House break-ins.
Russia is a key adversary of the United States
in cyberspace and is believed to have infiltrated
critical U.S. infrastructure, installing malware in
software that controls everything from oil and
gas pipelines to wind turbines to nuclear power
plants.
The White House breach made headlines last
year as a sign of hackers ability to access increasingly higher levels of the U.S. government.
White House officials confirmed in October
that its unclassified system had been breached.
Computers and systems were not damaged, officials said, though some services were disrupted
as cybersecurity experts sought to limit hackers
activity in the months that followed.
The vast majority of systems were back online as of late February, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said at the time.