Obama hints at hacking war

HONOLULU — U.S. President Barack Obama retaliated Thursday against Russia for cyberattacks aimed at interfering with the 2016 presidential campaign, imposing sanctions on top Russian intelligence officials and expelling 35 Russian operatives from America.

But Obama also suggested the U.S. could undertake covert activity in response to Russian activities — opening the way for a hacking war between Washington and Moscow.

“All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions,” Obama said in a statement released while he was vacationing in Hawaii. “Such activities have consequences.”

President-elect Donald Trump said he’ll meet next week with intelligence officials to discuss their findings that Russia hacked Democratic party emails to meddle in the 2016 election, signalling a possible shift from previous dismissals of Russian involvement.

Trump released a statement Thursday, saying, “It’s time for our country to move on to bigger and better things. Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation.”

The Russian government, which has denied responsibility for the hacking, has vowed to respond to any new sanctions with unspecified countermeasures, but is also likely to retaliate in the event of a cyberwar.

A spokesman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry said: “If Washington really does take new hostile steps, they will be answered. Any action against Russian diplomatic missions in the U.S. will immediately bounce back on U.S. diplomats in Russia.”

The FBI and U.S. Homeland Security Department released a report Thursday with technical evidence intended to prove Russia’s military and civilian intelligence services were behind the hack.

The report dubs the Russian operation “Grizzly Steppe.”

“These data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government,” Obama said, pointing the finger at Putin.