Suspected Russian cyber-attack growing in scale, Microsoft warns

Government agencies around world among targets in SolarWinds espionage-based' hack

Microsoft has said the UK and six other countries outside the US have been affected by a suspected Russian hacking attack that US authorities have warned poses a grave risk to government and private networks.

Brad Smith, Microsoft's chief legal counsel, said the company had uncovered 40 customers, including government agencies, thinktanks, NGOs and IT companies, who were targeted more precisely and compromised" after the hackers had gained initial access earlier this year.