ALISA SHEVCHENCKO - GETTY Alisa Shevchenko denied ever working for Vladimir Putin

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Alisa Shevchenko has been employed by numerous businesses to help root out serious cyber security flaws on their websites. But she has been blasted by the outgoing President over allegations she interfered in the November US elections on behalf of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin.

Now she and her company ZOR, which has been accused of aiding Russian spies with “technical research and development”, has been banned from operating in the US. ZOR is one of several companies added to a list of US sanctions released last week, including top officers in Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency and two well-known criminal hackers.

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According to the factsheet released by the White House, the company “provided the GRU with technical research and development”, but no further details were given. Now Ms Shevchenko has revealed she was furious with her inclusion on the list. She denied having ever knowingly worked for the Russian government, and blasted the “insane level of hysteria around the entire ‘Russian hacking’ story.”

Ms Shevchenko, a Thai kickboxing fanatic, also believes she has been singled out because she is a woman, saying: “A young female hacker and her helpless company seems like a perfect pick for that goal. “I don’t try to hide, I travel a lot, and am a friendly communicative person. “And most importantly, I don’t have any big money, power or connections behind me to shrug off the blame. “So really, it could be anyone.”

Vladimir Putin in pictures Tue, December 13, 2016 Russin President Vladimir Putin in pictures Play slideshow 1 of 56

A young female hacker and her helpless company seems like a perfect pick for that goal. Alisa Shevchenko, Russian hacker

She said the White House could have been tricked by a “counterfeit in order to frame my company”. Mr Putin has denied all Russian interference in the election, suggesting the blame has fallen on Moscow because the Democrats are struggling to deal with the shock result. But he also expressed hope that Donald Trump, who has repeatedly praised Russia, could help improve relations between the two former enemies.

GETTY Mr Putin has denied all Russian interference in the election