The US has charged seven Russian intelligence officers over a plot to hack computers and steal data from a nuclear energy company, anti-doping watchdogs, and sporting federations. These charges came only hours after the Netherlands announced the disruption of Russian hacking efforts against an international agency on chemical weapons that is investigating their use in Syria and the UK poisonings. In the attempt, the hackers researched the company and stole worker credentials from its staff, including staff at the advanced nuclear reactor development and new reactor technology units. The US statement indicated that there was no evidence that the hackers succeeded in penetrating their target systems. Three of the hackers have also been charged in a separate investigation for their involvement in Russian hacking operations targeting the 2016 elections. A Justice Department official said that the cases are separate and under the jurisdictions of separate agencies, even though they involve some of the same defendants.
Source: U.S. indicts Russians in hacking of nuclear company Westinghouse | Reuters
