WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Internet hackers have hijacked an official at the State Department and have targeted government agencies, companies and research centers in an attack similar to previous campaigns linked to Russia, experts said on Wednesday.
The "fraud" was launched on Wednesday by sending e-mails claiming to come from the ministry's public affairs officer.
Digital security companies, "Cold Strike" and "Fire Eye", said they continue to work to determine who is behind the attack.
The two companies said the attack was consistent with previous crackdowns by the Koozi Bear group or APT 29, a Russian group believed to be linked to Russian intelligence and linked to piracy that took place before the 2016 US presidential election.
The State Department said: "It is aware of the recent evil cyber incident and witnessed the impersonation of a staff member in the ministry and was reported by the American Digital Security Company Fire I. No network of the Ministry's networks was hacked through this malicious electronic attempt."
