The networks of 72 companies and organizations, including the United Nations and governments, were hacked in the biggest series of cyber attacks to date revealed by security vendor McAfee.
National secrets, business plans and other sensitive information were stolen in 14 countries in a massive operation dubbed by McAfee as "Operation Shady RAT," or "remote access tool." The governments affected by the attack include the United States, Taiwan, India, South Korea, the United Kingdom and Canada.
Most of the intrusions targeted U.S. organizations and the government. Other organizations include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the International Olympic Committee, World Anti-Doping Agency and others. Some of the intrusions lasted about 28 months.
The McAfee report shows evidence of breaches from mid-2006 and said the hacking could have begun before that period.
