Cyber giant F5 Networks says government hackers had ‘long-term’ access to its systems, stole code and customer data

F5 Networks, a leading cybersecurity provider, has disclosed that government hackers gained long-term access to its systems and stole sensitive data, including proprietary code and customer information. The company revealed this breach after the Department of Justice (DOJ) initially permitted it to delay public notification due to national security concerns. F5 Networks, which serves a significant portion of Fortune 500 companies, discovered the intrusion and alerted the authorities. The DOJ's involvement suggests the incident was related to state-sponsored cyber espionage. The company has not provided specific details about the hackers' identity or the duration of their access to F5's systems. While the full extent of the damage is unclear, the breach highlights the ongoing threat of sophisticated cyber attacks targeting even the most prominent cybersecurity providers. F5 Networks has stated that it is working to address the incident and is cooperating with law enforcement agencies to mitigate the impact and prevent similar occurrences in the future.