03/16/2026

Hackers may have breached FBI wiretap network via supply chain

Malwarebytes

Investigators are worried that a recent attack on a critical FBI system was more than just a random hit, and that another nation-state might have been involved.

On February 17, the FBI flagged irregular network activity that led straight to its Digital Collection System Network. That system contains sensitive data related to court-authorized wiretaps, pen registers, and FISA warrants, along with personal information on active FBI targets.

The bureau claims it has “identified and addressed” the suspicious activity. That’s it. No word on whether this was ransomware, state-sponsored espionage, or something else entirely.

Now the White House, DHS, and the NSA have joined the investigation, which isn’t the kind of guest list you’d see for a minor incident.

The breach path? Through a vendor’s internet service provider, according to reports. Not a frontal assault on FBI systems, but a side door through their supply chain. The hackers apparently exploited an ISP that served as a vendor to the agency, bypassing direct FBI defenses entirely.

The Wall Street Journal reports that US investigators suspect that hackers affiliated with the Chinese government were behind the breach.