The FBI’s Washington field office is investigating reports that Chinese hackers broke into several high-profile U.S. law firms. According to the New York Times, two people familiar with the matter confirmed the ongoing probe.
One of the affected firms, Williams & Connolly, admitted that attackers gained access to parts of its computer system. The firm explained that hackers used a “zero-day attack,” which exploits unknown software flaws. As a result, a small number of attorney email accounts were compromised.
Williams & Connolly stressed that the hackers did not take confidential client files from its main databases. The firm said it quickly blocked the threat and found no evidence of further unauthorized activity on its network.
Neither the FBI nor the Chinese embassy in Washington has commented so far.
For years, U.S. officials have accused China of carrying out cyberattacks aimed at stealing American intellectual property. This latest incident highlights the continued pressure on U.S. companies and law firms to defend against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
