Russian Hackers Target U.S. and Allies' Intel Officers in Sophisticated Spear Phishing Scam, Prompting Sanctions

Two Russian hackers have been indicted for attempting to hack into the computers of targets in multiple NATO countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, in a sophisticated phishing campaign. The hackers targeted U.K. political figures, journalists, think-tank staff, and current and former employees within the U.S. intelligence community. The Russian government's Federal Security Service accessed accounts related to a U.K. think tank and leaked information ahead of the 2019 elections. The hackers were able to gain unauthorized access to valuable intelligence related to U.S. defense, foreign affairs, security policies, and nuclear energy technology. The indicted individuals are believed to be in Russia.