US Congress wants information on Russians hacking nuclear computers

Robert Besser
08 Feb 2023, 01:29 GMT+10

US lawmakers have called on the Department of Energy to release documents detailing attempts by Russian hackers to target American nuclear laboratories last year
Reuters reported last month that the Russian hacking group "Cold River" targeted the Brookhaven, Argonne and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories over the summer
The Department of Energy, which manages nuclear laboratories in the US, said it had "not found any evidence of information being compromised"

WASHINGTON D.C.: US lawmakers have called on the Department of Energy to release documents detailing attempts by Russian hackers to target American nuclear laboratories last year.

After Reuters reported last month that the Russian hacking group "Cold River" targeted the Brookhaven, Argonne and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories over the summer, the Republican chairmen of the House of Representatives' oversight and science committees issued the request this week.

In a joint statement released to reporters, House Committee on Oversight Chairman James Comer and House Committee on Science Chairman Frank Lucas said, "Although it is unclear whether the attempted intrusions were successful, it is alarming that a hostile foreign adversary targeted government labs working on scientific research critical to the national security and competitiveness of the US."

The Department of Energy, which manages nuclear laboratories in the US, said it had "not found any evidence of information being compromised."

Cold River has attracted recent attention due to its potential involvement in the war in Ukraine.

Last week, UK authorities accused the group of conducting an espionage campaign targeting government, politics, academia, defense, journalism and activism.