US Air Force Shuts Down SharePoint Amid Major Security Breach
Microsoft is grappling with a substantial security concern involving its SharePoint service, employed by the US Air Force. This has resulted in a service-wide shutdown, potentially compromising sensitive information. Meanwhile, recent incidents underscore Microsoft's struggles with security, including breaches by Russian and Chinese government-backed groups.
The US Air Force is currently probing a 'privacy-related issue' involving Microsoft SharePoint. Consequently, all USAF SharePoints have been blocked Air Force-wide to safeguard sensitive information. This shutdown could render mission files and critical tools inaccessible to service members, sparking serious concerns.
This incident follows a series of security lapses at Microsoft. In summer 2025, the international IT and telecommunications service provider Colt Technology Services was potentially impacted through the exploitation of Microsoft SharePoint vulnerabilities. The ransomware group Warlock was reportedly behind this attack. The restoration of services may take up to two weeks.
Microsoft's security issues are not novel. In recent years, Russian and Chinese government snoops have infiltrated Microsoft systems, granting Beijing access to government emails and other sensitive information. Microsoft has not verified if the Air Force security issue is linked to these previous SharePoint vulnerabilities exploited by Chinese government spies and data thieves.
The US Air Force's investigation into the Microsoft SharePoint issue is ongoing. The service-wide shutdown underscores the potential gravity of the breach, which could expose sensitive military information. Microsoft, which has faced criticism for a 'cascade' of 'avoidable errors' in its security, must now tackle this latest incident swiftly and effectively.
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