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Russian Hackers Breach RNC Contractor

The group that reportedly hacked the RNC contractor is the same one that broke into the DNC’s systems in 2016.

Hackers working on behalf of the Russian government breached the computer systems of a contractor for the Republican National Committee, according to multiple reports. The incursion into the IT services company Synnex by the government-affiliated group known as Cozy Bear—the same group that hacked the Democratic National Committee in 2016 and released reams of internal emails—reportedly happened late last week. It is unclear what data the group may have stolen, and the RNC itself has denied that any of its systems were breached: “Microsoft informed us that one of our vendors, Synnex, systems may have been exposed. There is no indication the RNC was hacked or any RNC information was stolen. We are investigating the matter and have informed DHS and the FBI.” Synnex said in a statement, “We are a long-term distribution partner for Microsoft and along with them, responded with the requisite urgency to address the recent attacks and to limit the potential activities of these bad actors.” A massive but unrelated ransomware attack hit the American company Kaseya, which operates remote-control software for other companies’ computers, last week. President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin against further cyberattacks when the two met in mid-June.