‘Russian hackers targeted campaign of French prez candidate Macron’

PARIS: French presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron’s political campaign was targeted by a group of Russian hackers last month, according to a report by a cybersecurity research group on Tuesday.

The Pawn Storm group, which has been linked to several highprofile attacks in the West, used “phishing” techniques to try to steal personal data from Macron and members of his En Marche! campaign, Japan-based Trend Micro said.

Pawn Storm, also known as APT28, is also believed to be behind the attacks last summer on the US Democratic National Committee, thought to be aimed at undermining Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid. It is widely suspected of having links to Russia’s security services, and Moscow has been seen as a keen backer of Macron’s rival in the presidential race Marine Le Pen, who met President Vladimir Putin in a surprise visit to Moscow ahead of the vote.

Macron and Le Pen were the top two finishers in the first round of voting on Sunday, moving on to the second-round runoff on May 7.

CANDIDATES APPEAR IN CEREMONY FOR COP

Macron and Le Pen attended a sombre ceremony Tuesday honouring the policeman killed on the Champs Elysees, as they ramp up a campaign marked by security jitters.

They stood grim-faced among hundreds of mourners as Xavier Jugele’s gay partner delivered a moving eulogy to the 37-year-old officer slain in the shooting claimed by the Islamic State group on the most famous street in Paris just days before the first round of the election.

“I suffer without hatred,” Etienne Cardiles said at the ceremony led by outgoing President Francois Hollande.