Microsoft Embraces Role as Anti-Hacking Enforcer
Thwarted phishing effort comes as tech giants seek to safeguard U.S. midterm elections
As U.S. elections loom, Microsoft is emerging as a leading foe of Russian hacking and meddling in the democratic process, setting it apart from some of its biggest tech counterparts, including Facebook and Twitter, which have been playing catch-up since 2016 in the fight against foreign interference.
Late Monday, Microsoft Corp. staged a broad public announcement to herald its seizure of of web domains that were being used to send phishing emails by hackers linked to the Russian military, a possible attempt to manipulate the coming midterm elections in November. The cyber-attackers, from a group called Strontium, sought to masquerade as conservative organizations, the company said, in a possible ploy to sow divisions among Republicans.