US intel officials warn of Russian cyber threat
January 5, 2017
In a joint statement, senior officials of the American intelligence community on Thursday said that Russia's offensive cyber activities constituted a threat to the US and other Western nations.
National Intelligence Director James Clapper (pictured), National Security Agency director Admiral Mike Rogers and Defense Undersecretary (for Intelligence) Marcel Lettre told Congress' Senate Armed Services Committee that Russia's cyberattacks have targeted government organizations, critical infrastructure and corporations.
"Russia is a full-scope cyber actor that poses a major threat to the US government, military, diplomatic, commercial and critical infrastructure and key resource networks because of its highly advanced offensive cyber program and sophisticated tactics, techniques and procedures," the statement said.
"We assess that only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized the recent election-focused data thefts and disclosures, based on the scope and sensitivity of the targets," it added.
The US intelligence officials confirmed that a report on cybermeddling in the US presidential elections in November is scheduled for release next week.
The hearing comes amid allegations that Russian actors were behind politically motivated cyber activities that aimed at undermining trust in the US electoral system and supporting President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump-Assange nexus?
The incoming president has cast doubt on the intelligence community's assessment of Moscow's involvement in the hacks that led to thousands of emails from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to be published by whistleblowing organization WikiLeaks.
Various American news outlets have accused Trump of supporting WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for disparaging the Democratic Party, who's presidential candidate, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, lost in November.
"The dishonest media likes saying that I am in agreement with Julian Assange - wrong. I simply state what he states, it is for the people to make up their own minds as to the truth. The media lies to make it look like I am against 'intelligence' when in fact I am a big fan," he said in a two-tweet statement.
In December, the US State Department announced the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and closed two compounds used by Russian intelligence operatives for their alleged involvement in cyber activities targeting the presidential elections. Russian intelligence organizations were also targeted with sanctions.
Moscow said it would not retaliate over the Obama administration's decision, adding that it would wait until Trump assumed office. It said that Russia nonetheless reserves the right to retaliate. The Kremlin has consistently denied it hacked the US elections.
ls/se (AP, AFP, Reuters)