Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by chromas on Tuesday August 21 2018, @04:57PM   Printer-friendly
from the phishers-of-men dept.

Microsoft claims win over 'Russian political hackers'

Russian attempts to launch cyber-attacks against US conservative groups have been thwarted, Microsoft says. The software company said Russian hackers had tried to steal data from political organisations, including the International Republican Institute and the Hudson Institute think tanks. But they had been thwarted when its security staff had won control of six net domains mimicking their websites.

Microsoft said the Fancy Bear hacking group had been behind the attacks. "We're concerned that these and other attempts pose security threats to a broadening array of groups connected with both American political parties in the run-up to the 2018 elections," Microsoft said in its blog detailing its work.

The thwarted attack was likely the start of a "spear phishing" campaign, said Microsoft. This would involve tricking people into visiting the mimicked domains allowing the Fancy Bear group to see and steal login information that people use. As well as the two think-tanks, the domains seized were associated with several Senate offices and services. One domain sought to mimic Microsoft's Office 365 online service.

Russia has denied Microsoft's allegations that it targeted the right-wing think-tanks.

Also at NYT, Reuters, and The Hill.


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Wednesday August 22 2018, @02:33PM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday August 22 2018, @02:33PM (#724661) Journal

    Yeah, you're right. I DON'T know how much or how little the Russians invested. I do know, however, that Facebook and others have "exposed" piddling amounts of money investment.

    Had Russia spent billions, we might expect that we would have found a lot more than we have found. Unless we are just that damned incompetent!! If that last be true, then we deserve to have the Russians, the Afghans, and every tribe in the world meddling in our affairs!!

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2