Presidential campaign for French centrist Emmanuel Macron becomes victim of a hacking attack
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The French presidential campaign of centrist Emmanuel Macron has become the victim of a hacking attack.
According to a new report from the Associated Press, the attack came just 36 hours before France chooses between Macron, the centrist presidential candidate, and Marine Le Pen the far-right, anti-EU, anti-NATO opponent. France’s election campaign commission announced that leaked data came from Macron’s information systems – a crucial resource in any presidential campaign – as well as mail accounts from some of the campaign managers. The leaked data was then posted on the online platform 4chan.
This attack occurred only 10 days after Macron’s digital chief, Mounir Mahjoubi, claimed that the campaign was targeted unsuccessfully by Russia-linked hackers. Some are claiming that this attack may has come from similar characters. The attack is reminiscent to the leaks from the DNC and Hillary Clinton’s U.S presidential campaign last year.
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“I think it’s safe to say everybody’s judgement that the Russians are actively involved in the French elections,” said Senator Richard Burr, head of the US Senate Intelligence Committee this week.
It is believed that Russian operatives are leaking confidential information in order to manipulate the global political environment to their liking. Similar accusations were made last year when BIS, a Czech counterintelligence agency, accused Russian agents of trying to undermine the EU and NATO through intense spreading of fake news stories online.
The conservative, protectionist agendas of Donald Trump and Marine Le Pen coincide perfectly with Russia’s hopes for a weakening NATO, which could put the countries of Eastern Europe in jeopardy.
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