Microsoft takes down Russian sites trying to steal US Senate credentials

[Matrix]

Office 365 users to receive enhanced security benefits

 

Why it matters: Election integrity is an integral part of protecting freedom of citizens. Microsoft has shown that it is actively working to help prevent meddling in elections by building secure software for end users of any political background.

There have been many allegations of Russia interfering with United States elections ever since the 2016 Presidential Election. Late Monday evening, Microsoft shared that it had taken control of six domain names being used to attempt to capture login credentials from members of the Senate and think tank organizations.

Following warnings of broadened cyber attacks being conducted by Moscow, it is not just the DNC that Russia has targeted. The majority of think tank groups with close ties to the Senate were generally conservative in nature.

Over the past two years, Microsoft has helped shut down 84 websites masquerading as legitimate government sites. Microsoft President Brad Smith states, "We’re concerned that these and other attempts pose security threats to a broadening array of groups connected with both American political parties in the run-up to the 2018 elections."

In response to increased risk of cyber attacks, Microsoft is expanding its Defending Democracy Program with a new feature called Microsoft AccountGuard. Candidates and campaign offices at all levels of government will be provided with additional security features free of charge for Office 365.

AccountGuard has three key services that make it easier to identify potential risks. End users will receive notifications when hacking attempts are made and if a compromise is made, Microsoft will offer tailored solutions on how to best prevent further damage. Second, ongoing guidance will be provided to ensure that multi-factor authentication is being used, security patches are being applied, and other best practices are being followed.

Finally, Microsoft will be offering early access to new security features to customers with government ties. There is hope that staying up to date will make it significantly more difficult for compromises to occur.

 

source

[dMog]

the protection is only going to be as good...or as bad, as the dumbasses using the service..you know the one that will always open fishy looking emails and clicks on the links

[Matrix]

4 hours ago, dMog said:

you know the one that will always open fishy looking emails and clicks on the links

 

yup I have heard of such an animal never had the pleasure of meeting one have seen plenty of photos of them tho ?

[knowledge-Spammer]

 what proof it russia ?  plus when they talk about dnc   still never proof was russia

Following warnings of broadened cyber attacks being conducted by Moscow, it is not just the DNC that Russia has targeted. The majority of think tank groups with close ties to the Senate were generally conservative in nature.

 

 if was russia it seems russia have its own think tank ?

 

[steven36]

i'm more worried about the fact Microsoft  are the internet police now for the  USA Govt and they  have access to most all peoples  data around the world  and the Govt have gave them permission to shut you down. They the judge , jury and executioner and can shut down websites on a hunch !

 

Quote

 

Microsoft’s anti-hacking efforts make it an internet cop

 

The company’s announcement Tuesday that it had identified and forced the removal of fake internet domains mimicking conservative U.S. political institutions triggered alarm on Capitol Hill and led Russian officials to accuse the company of participating in an anti-Russian “witch hunt.”

 

Microsoft stands virtually alone among tech companies with an aggressive approach that uses U.S. courts to fight computer fraud and seize hacked websites back. In the process, it has acted more like a government detective than a global software giant.

 

 

They are a business that make billions of dollars  from selling services to countries all around the world  there best interest would be to stay neutral but now they are doing the CIA's and the NSA's  job they are digging there own grave.

 

Microsoft claims Fancy Bear was breaking into there servers so they sued the hacking group back in 2016 and the government gave  Microsoft deep state access  to go after hackers they are working for the Feds because they think the Russian bogyman  are out to steal there info. You know how the US Government accused Kaspersky of working for the Kremlin ? Well Microsoft really is working for Uncle Sam  and they are not  even trying to hide it , there out for  blood and revenge .

 

This here is going to cause Congress to  put more sanctions on Russia and in the process destroy any chance for peace and you can thank Microsoft for it.. it's not there Job that is the NSA and the CIA job. But the Govt have gave Microsoft clearance to  go after hackers so what they do is legal .

[knowledge-Spammer]

1 hour ago, steven36 said:

i'm more worried about the fact Microsoft  are the internet police now for the  USA Govt and they  have access to most all peoples  data around the world  and the Govt have gave them permission to shut you down. They the judge , jury and executioner and can shut down websites on a hunch !

 

 

They are a business that make billions of dollars  from selling services to countries all around the world  there best interest would be to stay neutral but now they are doing the CIA's and the NSA's  job they are digging there own grave.

 

Microsoft claims Fancy Bear was breaking into there servers so they sued the hacking group back in 2016 and the government gave  Microsoft deep state access  to go after hackers they are working for the Feds because they think the Russian bogyman  are out to steal there info. You know how the US Government accused Kaspersky of working for the Kremlin ? Well Microsoft really is working for Uncle Sam  and they are not  even trying to hide it , there out for  blood and revenge .

 

This here is going to cause Congress to  put more sanctions on Russia and in the process destroy any chance for peace and you can thank Microsoft for it.. it's not there Job that is the NSA and the CIA job. But the Govt have gave Microsoft clearance to  go after hackers so what they do is legal .

 it seems u is right about more sanctions  look what usa did funny as they think money 1st and not proof or peace  in about 4 or 5 year usa money be no good in much places

[steven36]

15 minutes ago, knowledge said:

it seems u is right about more sanctions  look what usa did funny as they think money 1st and not proof or peace  in about 4 or 5 year usa money be no good in much places

No one knows  what things will be like 5 or 6 years down the road if the economy weakens  before the mid terms there will most likely be a change of power in the congress . Trumps whole legacy is hanging on by a thread.. if  the economy weakens it will push us Independent party swing voters , to vote the other way because  his trade war will be causing to much problems. if things go bad they will be someone else in the White House in 2 more years.

[knowledge-Spammer]

12 minutes ago, steven36 said:

No one knows  what things will be like 5 or 6 years down the road if the economy weakens  before the mid terms there will most likely be a change of power in the congress . Trumps whole legacy is hanging on by a thread.. if  the economy weakens it will push us Independent party swing voters , to vote the other way because  his trade war will be causing to much problems. if things go bad they will be someone else in the White House in 2 more years.

 its going to happen for sure

 

[steven36]

11 minutes ago, knowledge said:

 its going to happen for sure

See China , Iran and others  hope for a change in power,  but right now things are better in the USA than they been since Bill Clinton was in office, but  things can change very fast  .Trump holds the cards too his fate.

[dMog]

quote... Trump holds the cards too his fate

 

problem is, what is happening to him right now is a high stakes poker game of the highest magnitude...but he is in the corner playing tiddleywinks...and thinking it is a multi-dimensional chess game... like him or not that is a pretty  good summation of what he is doing..just not looking good for him right now. ...again i gotta say not a shot at trump here, I  would rather see EVERY  American president be successful ..it is better for Canada  AND  the rest of the world

[steven36]

Well out of those 4 countries  only 2 matters witch is China an Russia witch the USA owes debt too..Trump talks like everyone owes the USA Money but it's not true, the reason we bought more from China than anyone else is because we owe them more Money than anyone else, but we also owe Japan a lot of money   but if some countries pull out of using  the US dollar they will just borrow the money from another country to pay off the debt .

Quote

 Brendan Waugh,  Answered 4w ago

China holds 5.3% of US debt. While substantial this is not overwhelming. If they stopped lending USD others would start lending.

Of course then China would have over $1 trillion US Dollars for which it would have to do something with. And that is a lot of cash to sell. It might lower exchange rates and thus help US Exports (Trump would be happy). And many of the new owners would want to hold their cash in nice safe Treasury bonds.

And if that cash returned home to the USA it might cause some inflation - which of course the Fed will suck up by simply raising interest rates. However the need to raise rates would of course be reduced by the fact that the US Treasury might have had to raise rates slightly because they had to attract more lenders to lend them money.

 

 

Now if others we owed the most money to pulled out as well it would put a hurt on USA  but we can pay back what we owe to Russia and China and it want hurt us in the long run  we be better off.

[knowledge-Spammer]

 maybe the sites are part with this  what Microsoft  say was fake or hacked  sites ?  maybe we need to ask her what she think as she a boss in hacking sites ?   little joke

 

[steven36]

40 minutes ago, knowledge said:

maybe the sites are part with this  what Microsoft  say was fake or hacked  sites ?

The younger generation are the ones you have to watch out for  they even be hacking to get good grades ...

Russia is smart they sold off most of there US debt and invested in Gold but there is plenty other countries not so smart who bought there debt . 

[straycat19]

23 hours ago, dMog said:

the protection is only going to be as good...or as bad, as the dumbasses using the service..you know the one that will always open fishy looking emails and clicks on the links

 

And that is the reason our IT folks implemented a system about 10 years ago that removes all links and attachments in our emails that originate outside of our system.  Only internal emails are allowed to have links and attachments.