Washington Post cyberattack investigations began swiftly after several journalists’ Microsoft email accounts were reportedly hacked last Thursday. The suspected intrusion, believed to be the work of a foreign entity, targeted key reporters covering sensitive topics such as national security and Chinese economic policy.
The Wall Street Journal first broke the story, which has since drawn sharp concern from press freedom advocates and cybersecurity experts.
Cyberattack Hits National Security Journalists
The cyberattack directly targeted members of the Washington Post’s national security and economic policy teams. Reports state that hackers hijacked the Microsoft accounts of journalists, especially those covering China, and accessed their work emails. This breach sparked serious concerns about foreign surveillance and espionage.
A source familiar with the matter confirmed that the hackers specifically targeted a select group of journalists without authorisation. Executive Editor Matt Murray immediately launched an internal investigation after he discovered the breach on Thursday.
He addressed the issue in a message to staff and confirmed that the team had already begun reviewing and upgrading security protocols to prevent future attacks. While the source did not identify the responsible country, they strongly suggested that a foreign government orchestrated the breach.
Investigation at the Washington Post
The Washington Post launched a thorough investigation in response to the hack to determine the extent of the incident and secure all impacted accounts. Although the outlet has not released any official announcements, internal communications convey the seriousness of the issue.
After the digital forensics team completes its study, the outlet plans to release more information. Major news organisations have faced similar attacks before. In 2022, News Corp, the parent company of the Wall Street Journal, reported a comparable breach that compromised data and email accounts of multiple journalists.
That attack also prompted suspicions of foreign involvement. Considering the sensitive nature of the Washington Post’s reporting teams, this latest breach could trigger major geopolitical consequences.
