Microsoft cites new Russian hacking bid

Microsoft has uncovered new hacking attempts by Russia targeting US political groups ahead of the mid-term elections.

The company said a group tied to the Russian government created fake websites that appeared to spoof two American conservative organisations, the Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute. Three other fake sites were designed to look as if they belonged to the US Senate.

Microsoft did not offer any further description of the fake sites. Russian officials dismissed the digital giant’s claims as unfounded.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov cited the lack of detail on the hack and said it wasn’t clear “who the hackers in question are”.

The revelation comes just weeks after a similar Microsoft discovery led Senator Claire Mccaskill – a Missouri Democrat who is running for re-election – to reveal Russian hackers tried unsuccessfully to infiltrate her Senate computer network.