Russian hackers targeting conservative US thinktanks, Microsoft says

Firm claims Kremlin-linked group created fake websites for Senate and thinktanks

The Russian group linked to the hacking of Hillary Clinton's presidential election campaign has been launching fresh attacks in the US, including against two conservative thinktanks, in the run-up to the midterm elections, according to Microsoft.

The technology company, which uncovered the new attempts, said the hackers created fake websites that appeared to mimic the Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute, two rightwing thinktanks broadly allied against Donald Trump. Three other fake domains were designed to look as if they belonged to the US Senate.