ATF declares ‘major incident’ as ransomware gang claims hack
In Brief
10:54 AM PDT · August 27, 2026
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, says a cyberattack on one of its systems has been declared a “major incident,” a formal, legally defined classification that prompts a formal notification to lawmakers in Congress.
ATF said in a statement that it’s responding to the cyberattack on a standalone system that’s separate from the bureau’s network. An ATF spokesperson told reporters that the targeted computer system contained information such as the “targets of ATF investigations.”
TechCrunch has seen a claim of responsibility by the Qilin ransomware gang on its leak site, but it did not provide evidence for its claim, such as a sample of leaked data. Qilin is known for running a “ransomware-as-a-service” operation, in which it leases its hacking toolsto other criminal affiliates for a cut of the profits. The gang has listed media...
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