Advertisement

New | Microsoft says Russia-linked hackers exploiting flaw in Windows

Patch available on November 8

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0
The new Microsoft Surface Studio introduced at a Microsoft news conference last month. Photo: AFP

Microsoft said on Tuesday that a hacking group previously linked to the Russian government and US political hacks was behind recent cyber attacks that exploited a newly discovered Windows security flaw.

The software maker said in an advisory on its website there had been a small number of attacks using “spear phishing” emails from a hacking group known Strontium, which is more widely known as “Fancy Bear,” or APT 28. Microsoft did not identify any victims.

Microsoft’s disclosure of the new attacks and the link to Russia came after Washington accused Moscow of launching an unprecedented hacking campaign aimed at disrupting and discrediting the upcoming US election.

The US government last month formally blamed the Russian government for the election-season hacks of Democratic Party emails and their subsequent disclosure via WikiLeaks and other entities. Russia has denied those accusations.

Microsoft fans get a look at the new Microsoft Surface Studio/ Photo: AFP
Microsoft fans get a look at the new Microsoft Surface Studio/ Photo: AFP

Microsoft said a patch to protect Windows users against the newly discovered threat will be released on November 8, which is Election Day. It was not clear whether the Windows vulnerability had been used in any of the recent US political hacks.

Representatives of the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security could not immediately be reached for comment.

Advertisement