The United States watched Russians hack France’s computer networks during the election and tipped off French officials before it became public, a U.S. cyber official told the Senate on Tuesday.
France’s election campaign commission said Saturday that “a significant amount of data” – and some fake information – was leaked on social networks following a hacking attack on centrist Emmanuel Macron’s successful presidential campaign. France’s government cybersecurity agency is investigating what a government official described as a “very serious” breach.
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The leak came 36 hours before the nation voted Sunday in a crucial presidential runoff between Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. The election commission said the leaked data apparently came from Macron’s “information systems and mail accounts from some of his campaign managers” – an attack that mimicked Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
“We had become aware of Russian activity. We had talked to our French counterparts and gave them a heads-ups – ‘Look, we’re watching the Russians. We’re seeing them penetrate some of your infrastructure. Here’s what we’ve seen. What can we do to try to assist?'” Adm. Mike Rogers told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
He said the U.S. also is working closely with German and British counterparts.
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Rogers also said the U.S. is still working on a comprehensive cyber policy to counter what he called a “brave new world” in the cyber domain. He said the United States is improving its ability to defend against cyberattacks, but “I would also tell myself, Rogers you are not moving fast enough.”