Russian hackers have spent the last year targeting nuclear scientists, defense contractors, and government employees in a cyber-espionage campaign, according to private-sector researchers and warnings from spy agencies.

Cyber-Espionage Campaign

The hackers, who are believed to be working for the Russian government, have been using a rare software exploit to steal email communications and sensitive information from their targets. The exploit, which only requires a target to open an email, can steal three months of email communications and an entire organization’s email directory.

The US email security firm Proofpoint, which investigated some of the activity, said the hackers were targeting entities and users with an interest in nuclear fusion. This suggests that the hackers are looking to gain strategic insight into Western military information, logistics, and policy decisions.

Targets and Motivations

The hackers’ targets include federal and local governments, law enforcement, and the defense, education, and energy sectors. The motivations behind the cyber-espionage campaign are not entirely clear, but it is believed that the hackers are seeking to gain an advantage over the US and its allies.

The US and its allies have issued a warning about the ongoing Russian espionage campaign, which has been testing hacking techniques on Ukraine before using them on NATO countries. The warning is an attempt to raise awareness about the threat and to help potential victims take steps to protect themselves.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.