US spy satellite agency says law enforcement probing "incident" affecting contracting site

The US spy satellite agency said on Monday authorities are investigating an unspecified incident affecting a website serving prospective intelligence community contractors.

The National Reconnaissance Office said in a statement that there had been "an incident involving our unclassified Acquisition Research Center website," which was currently being probed "in collaboration with federal law enforcement." The office declined further comment.

The statement follows a Washington Times story alleging that hackers had targeted intellectual property and personal information submitted via the Acquisition Research Center website in support of CIA spying programs.

The Acquisition Research Center provides a path for businesses to bid for intelligence contracts or pitch spy agencies on their products and services; it markets itself as a "portal for business opportunities for acquisitions across the Intelligence Community."

The Times story, citing people familiar with the activity, said hackers likely obtained details about technologies used in CIA operations, including a program aimed at Chinese spies called "Digital Hammer."

The FBI, which typically investigates cyber or counterintelligence matters, declined to comment. The CIA referred questions back to the National Reconnaissance Office.