RUSSIANS USED PHISHING TOOLS IN 2017 ATTACK
Russian hackers who penetrated hundreds of U.S. utilities, manufacturing plants and other facilities last year gained access by using the most conventional of phishing tools, tricking staffers into entering passwords, officials said.
The Russians targeted mostly the energy sector but also nuclear, aviation and critical manufacturing, Jonathan Homer, head of Homeland Security’s industrial control system analysis, said during a briefing Wednesday.
They had the capability to cause mass blackouts but chose not to. And there was no threat the grid would go down, the officials said. Instead, the hackers appeared more focused on reconnaissance.
Conservative lawmakers introduce resolution to impeach Rosenstein.
WASHINGTON» Republican Reps. Mark Meadows of North Carolina and Jim Jordan of Ohio introduced articles of impeachment Wednesday against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the special counsel probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The move sets up a showdown with House Republican leaders, who have distanced themselves from calls to remove Rosenstein from office. But Meadows and Jordan stopped short of forcing an immediate vote on the measure, sparing Republican lawmakers for now from a potential dilemma.
Meadows and Jordan are leaders of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, a bloc whose members have been among Rosenstein’s most persistent critics.
Prosecutors in Maria Butina case complain about her attorney’s media appearances.
Federal prosecutors in the case against alleged Russian agent Maria Butina complained to a judge Wednesday about media appearances by Butina’s attorney, and said they would not provide evidence to the defense until a protective order was in place.
No trial date was set for Butina, who has been held without bond since her arrest July 15.
Her lawyer, Robert Driscoll, said Wednesday he would be seeking a new hearing to have Butina released from jail pending trial. Prosecutors argued that Butina was a flight risk, saying she was arrested in an apartment filled with packed boxes indicating her intent to leave Washington, and that she could enter a Russian embassy or diplomatic vehicle and evade prosecution indefinitely.
Suicide bombing kills at least 29 near polling station as Pakistan votes in national elections.
PAKISTAN» Millions LAHORE, of Pakistani voters turned out Wednesday for national elections despite broiling heat, a bomb blast near a polling station that took at least 29 lives and a nerve-wracking campaign that was marked by public insults, terrorist attacks, accusations of military meddling and the dramatic return of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter to serve prison terms for financial misdeeds.
The polls were heavily guarded by a combination of police, army troops and paramilitary rangers, after several deadly campaign attacks left more than 200 people dead.
Bay Area liquor store sells only winning Mega Millions ticket.
A San Jose, Calif., store was the only retailer in the country to sell a ticket matching all six numbers drawn, netting one extremely lucky customer the $522 million jackpot.
Georgia state Rep. Jason Spencer to resign in wake of Sacha Baron Cohen pants-dropping debacle.
Georgia state Rep. Jason Spencer, who attracted nationwide ridicule after yelling obscenities and dropping his pants on Sacha Baron Cohen’s TV show, has submitted his resignation from the Georgia House of Representatives, the office of the House speaker confirmed early Wednesday.