ATF Investigative Information System Breached
A system containing information on investigative subjects at the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was breached. With the Qilin ransomware group claiming the attack, the agency classified it as a major cyber security incident and investigated. Investigation-related files were later published, and it was also reported that Qilin published 6.3 GB of files and took them down within 24 hours.
Key facts
- Affected organisation
- US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
- Incident type
- Ransomware
- Occurred / detected
- Not confirmed
- Scale of damage
- Breach of a system containing information on investigative subjects; claimed publication of 6.3 GB of investigation files
- Cause / method
- Breach of the investigative information system claimed by the Qilin ransomware group
- Location
- United States
Timeline
- It became known that the agency was investigating a major cyber security incident and that a ransomware group had claimed the attack.
- The agency disclosed the breach of a system containing information on investigative subjects.
- Investigation-related information was exposed in files published by Qilin.
- It was reported that Qilin published 6.3 GB of investigation files and took them down within 24 hours.
19 related reports
- ATF investigates ‘major’ cybersecurity incident as ransomware group claims attack
- DOJ: ATF hit by ransomware attack
- DOJ firearms agency says hackers breached system containing investigation targets
- Qilin Ransomware Gang claims Cyber Attack on U.S. ATF
- ATF declares ‘major incident’ as ransomware gang claims hack
- ATF confirms breach hours after Qilin ransomware gang claims US firearms agency
- ATF Hit By Ransomware Attack, DOJ Says
- ATF investigating ‘major’ cybersecurity incident
- US federal agency confirms data breach in wake of claims by ransomware group
- ATF Confirms Cyber Incident After Ransomware Group Claims Attack
- ATF confirms cyberattack hit system containing info on its investigation targets
- ATF declares cyberattack a ‘major incident’ after ransomware claim
- A Russian Ransomware Gang Says It Broke Into the ATF's Investigation Files
- ATF Cybersecurity Incident Analysis: Ransomware Group Qilin Claims Attack on Standalone Investigation System
- ATF Hacked: Qilin Claims Breach, 885 Victims [2026]
- ATF files leaked by Qilin hackers expose criminal investigations
- Ransomware gang leaks sensitive files from ATF investigations
- Russian-Speaking Ransomware Gang Leaks Alleged ATF Investigation Files
- Qilin leaks 6.3GB of ATF investigation files, then pulls it all within 24 hours
The summary and key facts are written by AI from related reports and may contain errors. Check the original articles and the organisation’s official statements for accurate details.