Look how Russian information warfare works:

A group calling itself the CyberCaliphate hacks a newspaper in Albuquerque, defacing its website. “You'll see no mercy infidels,” they write on Christmas Eve 2014. "With Allah's permission we begin with Albuquerque." http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/hoax-or-cyberattack-abq-journal-s-mobile-app-hacked/article_32f895fa-79e4-5b13-9f6e-a43a4d2bc8da.html …

Hours later, Internet Research Agency trolls amplify news of the cyberattack. Soon, they’re leaving out the word cyber, spreading a more ominous message: ISIS attacks Albuquerque! “ISIS terrorists live among us!” two accounts said.

The message shifts. Brazen ISIS has penetrated the heartland, America’s leaders helpless. Who’s to blame? “It’s all Obama’s fault!” wrote one user, using the hashtags #ImmigrationAction and #ISISattacks.

RT picks it up. Just the facts: American media outlets hacked by a group claiming to be ISIS. The FBI is investigating. https://www.rt.com/usa/220595-fbi-isis-hacks-media/ …

Some security pros mutter it doesn’t make sense. They’ve never heard of CyberCaliphate, and it isn’t ISIS’s MO. But news of the hack has spread, and the CyberCaliphate goes on to hack other targets. ISIS cyber army is here!

Except it’s not ISIS, according to the Brits, who today published a report saying the CyberCaliphate is actually Russia's military intelligence service https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/reckless-campaign-cyber-attacks-russian-military-intelligence-service-exposed …



Russia has denied hacking allegations.

We reported in February about the Albuquerque attack. Here’s the story https://www.wsj.com/graphics/russian-trolls-tweeted-disinformation-long-before-u-s-election/ …

You can follow @rob_barry.

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