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Computer screens (symbol image): create confusion, sow chaos "
Photo: Oliver Berg / DPA
Less than two weeks before the US presidential election, the influence of foreign agitators is increasingly coming into focus.
One of those players: Russia.
Hackers from there or commissioned from there are currently attacking American government targets on a large scale, according to US authorities.
The US cybersecurity agency announced on Thursday that dozens of computer networks have been attacked by authorities and in the aviation industry since at least September.
By October 1, data had been tapped from at least two servers.
The US authorities blame a group of hackers known as "Energetic Bear" and "Dragonfly" for the attacks.
IT security experts assume that she is acting on behalf of the Russian government.
In at least one case, they would have downloaded documents on network configuration and passwords as well as on creating access cards, among other things.
The day before, the US Department of Justice and the FBI had announced that hackers from Russia and Iran had stolen "some" personal data from registered voters.
The aim of this electoral interference is to "create confusion, sow chaos and undermine confidence in American democracy".
The target was the data from voters
Specifically, Iranian authorities have already sent emails with the aim of "intimidating voters, stirring up social unrest and harming President Trump," said US intelligence coordinator John Ratcliffe.
In addition to the emails, Iran published a video falsely claiming that it was easy to cast fake votes at home and abroad.
As in 2016, the Russian side had skimmed off voter data.
Ratcliffe assured, however, that the integrity of the November 3rd election was not endangered.
The intelligence coordinator did not provide any information on how much voter data Iran and Russia are said to have captured.
Registered voter data is typically stored locally in counties and municipalities in the United States.
No information was given as to which states or locations the voter data should come from.
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