ATF Confirms “Major Incident” After Recent Qilin Breach Claims
Officials say the isolated ATF system was shut down after the breach, and investigators are reviewing whether any files were taken.
- On Wednesday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed a cybersecurity breach of an isolated system following claims from the Russian-linked ransomware syndicate Qilin. The agency stressed that the affected environment functions separately from its main enterprise network.
- Operating on a double-extortion ransomware model, the Russian-linked Qilin group has claimed roughly 1,900 victims over the past 18 months since first emerging in 2022. The syndicate uses affiliates to steal and encrypt data while threatening public release.
- Senior Justice Department officials classified the breach as a "major incident" under federal guidelines, triggering direct DOJ involvement. The bureau reported that investigative tools and operational files were accessed, but gun-owner information was not compromised.
- ATF spokesperson Tanya Roman stated the affected system was "quickly shut down when the breach was discovered," and an investigation remains ongoing. The agency stressed that its ability to perform its missions has not been impacted.
- The incident has drawn scrutiny from Second Amendment groups regarding the safety of at least 866 million digitized firearms records held by the ATF. This breach follows a pattern of recent cyber intrusions across federal law enforcement and government infrastructure.
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12 Articles
US federal agency confirms data breach in wake of claims by ransomware group
By AJ Vicens Aug 27 (Reuters) – A ransomware group gained access to a computer system containing information about targets of investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, a spokesperson for the U.S. agency said after a hacking group publicized a claimed breach on Wednesday. Tanya Roman, a spokesperson for the agency, said in an email that the standalone system was not connected to any other ATF systems, including …
'Russia-Linked Hacker Group' Takes Credit for Cyberattack on ATF System
The "Russia-linked" Qilin ransomware group is taking credit for a cybersecurity incident that involved an alleged hack into a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) system, according to The Hill. The post ‘Russia-Linked Hacker Group’ Takes Credit for Cyberattack on ATF System appeared first on Breitbart.
ATF Cyber Breach Raises Gun-Owner Data Fears
ATF confirmed a major cybersecurity incident after the Qilin ransomware operation claimed the agency as a victim. Officials say the affected system was isolated from eForms and other ATF networks. AI-generated image created for AmmoLand News On Wednesday, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) became the latest federal agency targeted by a major ransomware operation. The Department of Justice confirmed the attack after Amm…
DOJ Confirms Ransomware Attack On ATF Claimed By Russian Cyber Gang - Tampa Free Press
The Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed a cybersecurity breach of an agency system, following dark web claims made by the Russian-linked ransomware syndicate Qilin, according to a report from CyberNews. ATF officials released a statement on August 26, 2026, confirming that an isolated system had been breached. […] DOJ Confirms Ransomware Attack On ATF Claimed By Russian Cyber Gang
ATF confirms “major incident” after recent Qilin breach claims
ATF, the regulatory agency that enforces federal laws governing firearms and explosives in the United States, has confirmed that one of its systems was compromised after breach claims made by the Qilin ransomware gang. [...]
US ATF Declares Cyberattack a Significant Incident as Qilin Claims Responsibility | Ukraine news | #ransomware | #cybercrime - National Cyber Security Consulting
A ransomware group has made a bold claim, but investigators are still searching for evidence that could show what was exposed. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has classified a cyberattack on one of its systems as a “major incident.” This designation is provided for under federal law and requires the […] Thank you for subscribing to our RSS feed! The post US ATF Declares Cyberattack a Significant Incident as Qil…
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