The State Department said Tuesday it has reopened Internet service on its unclassified worldwide email network after it was shut down for four days to clean up malware and boost defenses against cyberattacks believed to have started last fall.
The State Department shut down its unclassified email system on Friday after malware was detected in November, saying the incident demonstrated that it was among "a growing list of public institutions and private industries facing an increasing number of sophisticated cyber threats." The agency wouldn't confirm published reports that the Russian government was behind the hack, but it stressed that its classified systems weren't affected.
Jen Psaki, the State Department's spokeswoman, said that the unclassified system was fully restored Tuesday but that some email delivery could still be delayed "as the system resumes normal operations."
IN-DEPTH
- State Department Shuts Down Part of Computer Network to Clean Up Malware
- State Department Joins Growing List of Hacked Federal Agencies
- CIA Director Brennan: Social Media Makes It Harder to Fight Terror
SOCIAL
— M. Alex Johnson
