Hackers Target Think Tanks to Get a Peek at U.S. Government Strategy
Foreign hackers are going after the wonks.
Cyber criminals are targeting policy groups and nongovernmental organizations to get a leg up on U.S. government strategy, according to an executive at cybersecurity company CrowdStrike Inc. Such "nation-state" hackers, often tied to governments including China or Russia, want advanced intelligence on U.S. policy, said Shawn Henry, chief security officer of the Irvine, California-based company.
"They want to know what the thought leaders in the United States are considering, what they’re debating,” Henry, who oversaw the FBI’s global cyber investigations before retiring in 2012, said in an interview in Arlington, Virginia. "They’re looking for how policy is being designed. They’re looking at how senior leaders or former senior leaders are advising existing senior leaders -- what the emerging issues are, how the U.S. government is going to implement certain strategy."
While Henry wouldn’t provide specifics on targets, Washington has many so-called think tanks and interest groups staffed by former government officials and analysts who stay in close touch with current policy makers.
Foreign cyberthreats are also increasing from the Middle East. CrowdStrike is tracking "a number of Iranian campaigns," targeting the U.S. energy sector and telecommunications industries, Henry said. It’s also monitoring a group aligned with Islamic State militants that’s been eyeing U.S. critical infrastructure.
Political Agendas
Besides using malware, infiltrators are enhancing their tactics to gain access to an organization’s computer network. In addition, "hacktivist" groups aiming to promote their political or social agenda to gain media attention are active. The firm recently alerted clients to a group out of Turkey that stole and publicized data from some larger U.S. companies in an effort to demonstrate its support for Armenia and its anti-Azerbaijan stance, he said.
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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-12/it-s-hackers-versus-wonks-as-cybercriminals-seek-leg-up-on-u-s
