Microsoft uncovers more Russian hacking attacks

The hacking attempts mirror similar Russian attacks ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Representation Pic/AFP

Microsoft has said it has uncovered new Russian hacking attempts targeting US political groups ahead of the midterm elections. The company said that a hacking group tied to the Russian government created fake internet domains that appeared to spoof two American conservative organisations: the Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute. Three other fake domains were designed to look as if they belonged to the US Senate.

Microsoft didn't offer any further description of the sites. The hacking attempts mirror similar Russian attacks ahead of the 2016 election, which US intelligence officials have said were focused on helping to elect Republican Donald Trump to the presidency by hurting his opponent, Hillary Clinton.

"This activity is most fundamentally focused on disrupting democracy," Brad Smith, Microsoft's president and chief legal officer, said. He said there is no sign the hackers were successful in persuading anyone to click on the sites, which could have exposed a target victim to computer infiltration.

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