The FBI and Microsoft have seized more than 100 web domains they say Russian intelligence used for cyber-espionage, according to court documents unsealed Thursday.
The domains were allegedly staging grounds for Russia’s FSB intelligence agency in its ongoing efforts to spy on targets of interest, ranging from the U.S. Department of Energy to Russian nonprofits and media outlets critical of the Kremlin.
The Justice Department seized 41 of the web domains, according to the FBI affidavit, and also granted Microsoft control of 66 additional domains the company said were part of the same operation.
Intelligence agencies with even moderate cyber capabilities routinely hack foreign targets to gather intelligence.
Many of the web domains allegedly used by the FSB were hosted by Virginia-based company Verisign, the court documents said.
Persons:
Hillary Clinton’s, Steven Masada, ” Masada, Natalia Krapiva, ”
Organizations:
FBI, Microsoft, U.S . Department of Energy, Kremlin, Justice Department, United, Russia’s Ministry, Foreign Affairs, NBC News, Microsoft’s Digital, Unit, The
Locations:
States, United States, Russian, U.S, British, Virginia