Accurate commentary from the BBC…:
[…] The SolarWinds hack has stunned and terrified the sector – particularly those who make and sell software to protect us from hacks.
The last few weeks have been a nightmare scenario playing out in slow motion as more and more details of the scope and depth of the intrusion have been drip-fed to the public.
For the intelligence community though, at least in private, it’s more of a case of: “Why didn’t we think of that?”
All nations hack each other and supply chain attacks like this -albeit not as successful – have been used in the past for spying or disruption.
Clearly the Biden administration is preparing to respond in some way. But in truth, aside from perhaps a public naming and shaming of the hackers, there is little it can do directly to the perpetrators involved.
What happens behind closed doors is far more significant as cyber-defences will need to be rebuilt and potential offensive retaliation planned.