Russian research firm Kaspersky Labs released information today about a major cyber-crime attack that has been stealing classified government information since 2007.

The malware, code named “Red October,” is designed to steal encrypted files and has the ability to retrieve files that have been deleted on a computer if the deletion was not done in a secure manner.

One cyber-security expert is calling the attack a “very significant” breach of internet security.

“The primary focus of the campaign targets countries in Eastern Europe, former USSR Republics and countries in Central Asia,” the Kaspersky Labs statement read. “Although victims can be found everywhere, including Western Europe and America.”

“The main objective of the attackers was to gather sensitive documents,” the statement continued, “which included geopolitical intelligence, credentials to access classified computer systems and data from personal mobile devices and network equipment.”

The virus was found to be similar to the Flame virus from last year in that it can hide on a system when you attempt to clean it and then re-launch itself through e-mail.