Microsoft investigating if internal leaks are responsible for large scale suspected Chinese hack

The White House on Friday said it is still trying to determine the full scope and scale of the massive global hack of Microsoft email server software, adding that hackers likely still have access to systems.

Microsoft is investigating whether a world-wide cyber attack on tens of thousands of its corporate customers may be linked to a leak of information by the company or its partners, according to people familiar with the matter. The investigation centres in part on the question of how a stealthy cyberattack that began in early January picked up steam in the week before the company was able to send a software fix to customers. In that time, a handful of China-linked hacking groups obtained the tools that allowed them to launch wide-ranging cyberattacks that have now infected computers all over the world running Microsoft's Exchange email software. American National Security Adviser (NSA), Jake Sullivan described the Microsoft Exchange attack, which triggered a global wave of cyber infections beginning 26th February, as “significant” but also added the exact number of victims is still unclear.