New Russian Hacking Targeted Republican Groups, Microsoft Says

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BOSTON — The Russian military intelligence unit that sought to influence the 2016 election appears to have a new target: conservative American think tanks that have broken with President Trump and are seeking continued sanctions against Moscow, exposing oligarchs or pressing for human rights.

In a report scheduled for release on Tuesday, Microsoft Corporation said that it detected and seized websites that were created in recent weeks by hackers linked to the Russian unit formerly known as the G.R.U. The sites appeared meant to trick people into thinking they were clicking through links managed by the Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute, but were secretly redirected to web pages created by the hackers to steal passwords and other credentials.

Microsoft also found websites imitating the United States Senate, but not specific Senate offices or political campaigns.

The shift to attacking conservative think tanks underscores the Russian intelligence agency’s goals: to disrupt any institutions challenging Moscow and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.

The Hudson Institute has promoted programs examining the rise of kleptocracy in governments around the world, with Russia as a prime target. The International Republican Institute, which receives some funding from the State Department and the United States Agency for International Development, has worked for decades in promoting democracy around the world.

[Edit for brevity. --DJW001]

“This is another demonstration of the fact that the Russians aren’t really pursuing partisan attacks, they are pursuing attacks that they perceive in their own national self-interest,” said Eric Rosenbach, the director of the Defending Digital Democracy project at Harvard University, on Monday. “It’s about disrupting and diminishing any group that challenges how Putin’s Russia is operating at home and around the world.”

More here.

This is another example of Russia's "asymmetrical warfare" directed against liberal democracy. Their interference is not partisan, not based upon abstract ideology, but rather intended to further the aim of Russian security and international prestige. All of the institutional targets of this latest attack oppose lifting sanctions on Russia. They are the traditional base of the Republican party. The GRU is attempting to separate them from the party leadership in order to strengthen the Russophiles that are taking Russian money laundered through the NRA and other lobbyists.

a reply to: DJW001

Russia, or any other nation for that matter, will be emboldened to do whatever they like when they know they have a built-in defense machine within the nation they are "attacking".

In this case, the very people they are attacking are also their defenders.

And why defend them?

Cuz Hillary.

originally posted by: introvert
a reply to: DJW001

Russia, or any other nation for that matter, will be emboldened to do whatever they like when they know they have a built-in defense machine within the nation they are "attacking".

In this case, the very people they are attacking are also their defenders.

And why defend them?

Cuz Hillary.

Certainly the rank and file of Trump supporters are in simple denial. The disturbing aspect is how corporate interests are taking advantage of the political climate. "Managed democracy" would serve large corporations well. They could steer government without any check by the electorate. We can already see this in certain cabinet appointments.

ETA: A Secretary of State with ties to Russian energy and a Secretary of the Interior who, well, has been selling off our public land.

This is another example of Russia's "asymmetrical warfare" directed against liberal democracy.

Here's another example of "asymmetrical warfare'" directed against liberal democracy.

The RIGHT to rig Primaries.

It's tiresome listening to people whining about Russia.

originally posted by: neo96

This is another example of Russia's "asymmetrical warfare" directed against liberal democracy.

Here's another example of "asymmetrical warfare'" directed against liberal democracy.

The RIGHT to rig Primaries.

It's tiresome listening to people whining about Russia.

Nice attempt at deflection. Do you believe the GRU has the "right" to hack American institutions? Would you feel the same way if American intelligence were hacking the institutions of your nation?

a reply to: DJW001

That is a very interesting aspect that we must keep an eye on and it will be eve more interesting to see what else may be done, once this presidency comes to it's end.

originally posted by: introvert
a reply to: DJW001

Russia, or any other nation for that matter, will be emboldened to do whatever they like when they know they have a built-in defense machine within the nation they are "attacking".

In this case, the very people they are attacking are also their defenders.

And why defend them?

Cuz Hillary.

That a better reason than most. Joking, I don’t doubt Cyber Command can take care of it. Country’s and corporations attack each other every day. Have for years.

a reply to: DJW001

“This is another demonstration of the fact that the Russians aren’t really pursuing partisan attacks, they are pursuing attacks that they perceive in their own national self-interest,”

A lot of people have been saying this for a long time. Unfortunately 'the Left' have exploited it to undermine Trump and his supporters. Instead of sticking to the concept that Russia is self-interested, they used it as a spiked bat to blame 'the Right' and chastise or ridicule the 'Right.'

The 'Right' were defensive and refused to entertain the possibility that Russia favours a weaker America. Look at the #storm of what amounts to 'discussion' about Russia.

Right and Left have muddied the waters for political advantage and, perhaps, done more to protect the Russians than Russia could ever have dreamed.

a reply to: neo96

Exactly as I said and you prove my point.

A built in defense machine that will deflect to the "cuz Hillary" excuse.

The Democrats "rigging" their own party processes has nothing to do with this.

originally posted by: Nickn3

originally posted by: introvert
a reply to: DJW001

Russia, or any other nation for that matter, will be emboldened to do whatever they like when they know they have a built-in defense machine within the nation they are "attacking".

In this case, the very people they are attacking are also their defenders.

And why defend them?

Cuz Hillary.

That a better reason than most. Joking, I don’t doubt Cyber Command can take care of it. Country’s and corporations attack each other every day. Have for years.

I hope they can take care of it. I have my doubts, as it appears they are not compelled to stop these sorts of things from happening. They just communicate with the targets and help them after the fact.

originally posted by: introvert
a reply to: DJW001

That is a very interesting aspect that we must keep an eye on and it will be eve more interesting to see what else may be done, once this presidency comes to it's end.

Russia is a vast potential market. Big business is more concerned with exploiting that market than they are in trifling matters like international law and human rights. This is an ideological split in the GOP. The traditional core, though capitalist, support the expansion of the post-war order, with its liberal democratic values and creation of international institutions. Trump has grown a nationalistic faction that rejects the post-war order, and this has given an opening to carpetbagging corporations and greedy politicians.

a reply to: DJW001

Democrat and Republican are not American Institutions.

They are Private corporations.

Would you feel the same way if American intelligence were hacking the institutions of your nation?

The UNITED STATES hacks everyone, and has a long history of staging coups and rigging elections all over the globe.

The US is hardly a effing victim.

a reply to: introvert

In a LIBERAL DEMOCRACY people don't RIG PRIMARIES.

originally posted by: neo96
a reply to: introvert

In a LIBERAL DEMOCRACY people don't RIG PRIMARIES.

Ok. What does that have to do with Russia, their activities and how the Right Wing is conducting themselves?

a reply to: Kandinsky

Precisely, there is no denying that Russia has been taking information and stirring up conflict via cyber means. Their goal per many top level US officials is to sow discord within citizens. Trolls and the likes will take both sides of heated debates in order to make issues either bigger, or appear bigger than they are.

As far as the election is concerned, no matter who won presidency, the conversation of "Russia influenced the election" would likely be had considering both campaigns allegedly tried or successfully obtained opposition research from Russian sources.

The more it gets politicized, the more their mission is accomplished.

They don't care who wins, only that we fight.

a reply to: Kandinsky

A lot of people have been saying this for a long time. Unfortunately 'the Left' have exploited it to undermine Trump and his supporters. Instead of sticking to the concept that Russia is self-interested, they used it as a spiked bat to blame 'the Right' and chastise or ridicule the 'Right.'

The fact of the matter is that the president denies it is happening. His failure to direct the Executive Branch to do everything in its power to stop it is telling. Rather than listen to his career intelligence officers, he mocks and abuses them. In essence, his failure to act is giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

a reply to: introvert

Wake me up when the ELECTORAL COLLEGE gets hacked.

Gonna have a long slumber.

originally posted by: neo96
a reply to: introvert

In a LIBERAL DEMOCRACY people don't RIG PRIMARIES.

Of course they do. That's the fun of politics that are not completely controlled by the central government. There is no need to rig primaries in Russia because genuine opposition candidates are simply placed in jail.

a reply to: DJW001

a reply to: DJW001

So....they specifically reference people clicking through "Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute" pages that are being targeted?

I cant say I have ever been to either and I cant imagine those websites are beacons for throngs of online searches.

I get that people want to continue with the Russia narrative since so much time and money has been spent on it already, but why cant they just take care of it already?

The funny thing about this is because of all the BS lies already spewed for the last 2 years about Trump and Russia, it actually does nothing for anyone on either side with this continually being in the news.

Somebody needs to make the boy who cried wolf and mandatory story.