Security News > 2020 > July > Trump Confirms U.S. Launched Cyberattack on Russian Troll Farm in 2018

Trump Confirms U.S. Launched Cyberattack on Russian Troll Farm in 2018
2020-07-13 12:00

U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that a cyberattack was launched in 2018 against a Russian company believed to be behind some major disinformation campaigns, including ones targeting elections.

The Washington Post reported in February 2019 that the U.S. Cyber Command, supported by the NSA, had launched an attack on the Internet Research Agency, a Saint Petersburg-based firm that is said to conduct online influence operations for the Russian government.

In an interview with the Washington Post last week, President Trump confirmed authorizing the attack on the Russian troll farm, and claimed that his predecessor, President Barack Obama, did nothing to stop similar influence campaigns before the 2016 presidential election, despite allegedly knowing about them.

The IRA, believed to be funded by a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is said to have conducted several major disinformation campaigns, including ones aimed at interfering in politics, not only in the United States but also the United Kingdom.

In 2018, the U.S. announced charges against a dozen Russian intelligence officers and several entities over their alleged role in election meddling.


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