Russian hackers are said to be seeking hush money from liberal U.S. groups, reports Bloomberg's Michael Riley. His article points to the post-election crime wave of attackers demanding bitcoins, as well as to the Center for American Progress, a group said to have been targeted. Other findings:
- "At least a dozen groups have faced extortion attempts since the U.S. presidential election."
- "The ransom demands are accompanied by samples of sensitive data in the hackers' possession. In one case, a non-profit group and a prominent liberal donor discussed how to use grant money to cover some costs for anti-Trump protesters."
- "At least some groups have paid the ransoms even though there is little guarantee the documents won't be made public anyway. Demands have ranged from about $30,000 to $150,000, payable in untraceable bitcoins."
- "The Center for American Progress, a Washington think tank with strong links to both the Clinton and Obama administrations, and Arabella Advisors, which guides liberal donors who want to invest in progressive causes, have been asked to pay ransoms." (CAP president Neera Tanden denies her organization has been hacked/targeted for ransom).