Washington Post Journalists Targeted in Suspected Foreign Cyberattack

Several journalists at The Washington Post who cover China, including members of the national security and economic policy teams, had their Microsoft email accounts compromised in a suspected cyberattack potentially carried out by a foreign government. The breach, discovered on a recent Thursday evening, may have allowed hackers access to the reporters’ work emails, including sent and received messages. Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray alerted staff about the targeted intrusion and confirmed that a limited number of accounts were affected, with an investigation now underway. Those impacted were notified and asked not to discuss the incident publicly, while law enforcement and cybersecurity experts noted that journalists are common targets for nation-state hackers seeking sensitive information. Chinese authorities denied knowledge of the specific incident, emphasizing their opposition to cyberattacks and willingness to cooperate internationally on cybersecurity issues. The Washington Post believes the breach did not affect other systems or customers, and Murray’s prior experience managing similar incidents at The Wall Street Journal is informing the current response.