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Russian Hack Goes Deeper Than DNC: Full Scope Revealed

Posted: October 10, 2016 to Cybersecurity.

Tags: Malware, Data Breach, Digital Forensics

Last week, the United States formally accused Russia for cyberattacks involving the Democratic Party.  It looks like the hack was actually much deeper than that, involving Republicans as well, and targeting people whose work the Russian government considers strategically important, and it's been going on for longer than initially suspected. The hacking appears to mostly have come through spearphishing, where a person is tricked into clicking an email or link from what looks like a trusted source, but actually loads malware onto the device.  The malware gives the hackers access to emails, databases and work files, then spreads to the initial victim's contacts. The cyberattacks appear to have started two years ago, but got underway more in 2015.  Targets included people connected to elections and foreign policy, Capitol Hill staffers, and campaign and party organizers.  There was also a lot of activity surrounding people with close ties to Hillary Clinton's State Department, the Clinton Foundation and her election campaign. According to briefings by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Russian hackers were able to gather information mainly through emails of their targets.  Hack victims were notified and told to assess the damage.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

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