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For context, Freund is a software engineer specializing in developing open-source database software known as PostgreSQL.
How did the engineer identify the issue?
While running his routine maintenance checks, Freund stumbled on something somewhat off.
The software engineer leverages a specific tool called SSH to access computers remotely on the internet.
The process is usually smooth and seamless, but it was a bit slow on this particular day.
This slowdown prompted the engineer to investigate the matter, which was highly alarming.
He found malicious code buried in a software package dubbed XZ Utils.
The tool compresses and decompresses data running on the Linux OS.
Instead, the software engineer believes the backdoor was intentionally placed on the program to cause havoc.
Who was behind the sophisticated attack?
However, it’s believed that a hacker group used the pseudonym Jia Tan to infiltrate the system.
