Microsoft Thwarts Foreign Cyberattacks Targeting 2020 US Presidential Campaigns
Microsoft reports that state-backed hacking groups from Russia, China, and Iran actively target the upcoming US presidential election. The company successfully blocks most of these cyberattacks and issues direct notifications to the impacted political campaigns.
Microsoft detects ongoing cyberattacks from foreign state-sponsored groups that target people and organizations involved in the upcoming United States presidential election. These threat actors successfully breach some systems but fail in their attempts to compromise the campaigns of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The tech giant confirms that this malicious activity aligns with recent warnings from the US government regarding anticipated foreign interference.
The company identifies three specific hacking groups behind the surge in attacks. Strontium, a group operating from Russia, targets over 200 political campaigns, advocacy groups, and consultants. Zirconium, originating from China, focuses on high-profile individuals associated with the Biden campaign and international affairs leaders. Meanwhile, Phosphorus, operating from Iran, continuously attacks the personal accounts of people connected to the Trump campaign.
Microsoft stops the majority of these cyber threats using built-in security tools and directly notifies the targeted individuals so they can secure their accounts. Because these adversaries consistently target candidates, staffers, and political consultants, Microsoft strongly urges political organizations to adopt free and low-cost security tools like AccountGuard and Microsoft 365 for Campaigns. These widespread attacks highlight the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures as election day approaches.