World News Briefs -- December 18, 2020

Daily Mail: Congressman compares Russian hack of US government and corporate America to Pearl Harbor sneak attack - as officials say agents ran a dry run in October 2019 and one Senator calls it 'an act of war' 

 * Congressman compares Russian hack of US government and corporate America to Pearl Harbor sneak attack as officials say agents ran a dry run in October 2019 and one Senator calls it 'an act of war' 
 * Colorado congressman compares SUNBURST attack to 'cyber Pearl Harbor' 
 * Microsoft president says the attack is a 'moment of reckoning' for America 
 * Suspected Russian hackers breached key government agencies and companies 
 * Officials warn that hackers had ample opportunity to set up secret backdoors 
 * Breach went undetected for nine months giving hackers free reign in systems 
 * Hackers conducted a 'dry run' of the attack more than a year ago 
 * Cyber attack has been called the largest in American history 

A massive suspected Russian hacking campaign that compromised broad swathes of the federal government and private sector is being called a 'cyber Pearl Harbor' by a Congressman. 

The sprawling attack, which went undetected for nearly nine months, compromised the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Treasury, State and Energy, as well as a growing list of companies and local governments across the country. 

Read more .... 

 MIDDLE EAST 










 ASIA 

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 AFRICA 



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 EUROPE 








Austria will offer coronavirus tests to its entire population with those testing negative receiving 'more freedoms' as country prepares for third lockdown. 





 AMERICAS 


Covid: US Vice-President Mike Pence receives vaccine live on TV. 








 TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR 





 ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS 






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