FBI probing possible Russian hack of US newsrooms: CNN
What you need to know:
- Investigators think the latest hacks are part of a broader of series of attacks that also targeted Democratic Party organisations.
- Cyber-vulnerabilities have become something of a crisis in the US government.
WASHINGTON
Hackers with apparent ties to Russia have conducted a series of cyberattacks on US media outlets including The New York Times, CNN reported Tuesday.
The FBI and other US law enforcement agencies are examining the breaches, US officials told CNN, and investigators believe Russian intelligence is likely to be behind the hacks.
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and a New York Times spokeswoman did not confirm the investigation to CNN.
According to CNN, investigators think the latest hacks are part of a broader series of attacks that also targeted Democratic Party organisations.
Hillary Clinton's campaign has accused Moscow of hacking into Democratic National Committee emails.
CNN said Russian hackers are also believed to be attempting cyberattacks on Washington's many think tanks, which frequently employ former government officials to provide expert analysis on national security issues.
Cyber-vulnerabilities have become something of a crisis in the US government.
The head of the Office of Personnel Management was last year forced to resign after her agency suffered a massive hack — which many suspect originated in China — that affected a staggering 21.5 million people.
Even America's top cyber-snooping organisation, the National Security Agency, is in the midst of a hacking scandal in which it appears some of its top secret code was leaked or stolen.
