Microsoft shuts down phishing sites, accuses Russia of new election meddling

Enlarge / Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the Moscow Urban Forum 2018 on July 18, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (credit: Getty Images | Mikhail Svetlov )

Russia has denied any knowledge of a spear phishing attempt that allegedly mimicked the domains of the US Senate and two US-based think tanks.

Russia's denial came after Microsoft said it detected and shut down the campaign.

"Last week, Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) successfully executed a court order to disrupt and transfer control of six Internet domains created by a group widely associated with the Russian government and known as Strontium, or alternatively Fancy Bear or APT28," Microsoft Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith wrote in Microsoft's announcement Monday. "We have now used this approach 12 times in two years to shut down 84 fake websites associated with this group."

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