On February 3, 2025, a cyberattack caused a major disruption to Lee Enterprises, one of the largest newspaper groups in the United States. The company officially confirmed the breach, stating that the incident impacted critical services and significantly disrupted operational processes.
An ongoing investigation is determining the extent of the data compromise. The company emphasizes that such inquiries require substantial time and may take weeks or even longer to complete. Law enforcement agencies have already been notified of the breach.
As a result of the attack, Lee Enterprises was forced to disable multiple network systems, leading to widespread printing and distribution delays across dozens of newspapers. Employees are struggling to connect to the corporate network, as VPN services remain inaccessible, while editors and journalists are unable to retrieve their files. Many Lee Enterprises publications have displayed banners on their websites, informing readers of temporary technical issues affecting subscription access and digital editions.
The company has declined to disclose specific details of the attack, citing the ongoing investigation and its potential ramifications. In an official statement, Lee Enterprises stressed that it would not release information that could jeopardize the inquiry or hinder law enforcement efforts.
Lee Enterprises oversees 77 daily newspapers and 350 weekly and specialty publications across 26 U.S. states. The company’s total circulation exceeds 1.2 million copies per day, while its digital audience surpasses 44 million unique visitors. This is not the first time Lee Enterprises has been targeted by cybercriminals—during the 2020 presidential election, Iranian hackers infiltrated the company’s network as part of a disinformation campaign.
