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Dutch intel may have shared with USA evidence Russian Federation hacked DNC

January 26, 2018 12:21·
Imago via ZUMA

Imago via ZUMA

That trove of intelligence gathered by the Netherlands since 2014 has been crucial to the US investigation into the Russian campaign influence operation, the reports from Nieuwsuur and Volkskrant said.

That confidence is based on "AIVD hackers having had access to the office-like space in the centre of Moscow for years", the Volkskrant said, citing sources who added that the Dutch had provided "technical evidence" of the attack on the Democratic Party.

The Dutch intelligence agency AIVD spied on the Russian group believed to have hacked the Democratic Party ahead of US presidential elections, local media reported on Thursday.

"In fact, our team considers them some of the best adversaries out of all the numerous nation-state, criminal and hacktivist/terrorist groups we encounter on a daily basis". JSCU infiltrated its network and a nearby security camera, allowing it to see what Cozy Bear was up to, and possibly who was a member. Pictures were taken of all visitors; these were compared to images of known spies.

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The AIVD intelligence on the Democratic Party hack served as "grounds for the FBI to start an investigation into the influence of the Russian interference on the election", according to the joint investigation. The Dutch tipped off USA intelligence, and a 24-hour cyberbattle ensued between the Russian attackers and US defenders, with Dutch spies in their corner.

The AIVD alerted its USA counterparts when in 2015 it became a "witness to the Russian hackers harassing and penetrating the leaders of the Democratic Party, transferring thousands of emails and documents", it said. Six of those had direct knowledge of the Dutch access while the other nine are familiar with the intelligence community, the working methods of Russian hacking groups or the U.S.

AIVD reportedly alerted the Central Intelligence Agency and the NSA about Cozy Bear's hacking activities throughout the 2016 election. -Dutch worldwide relationship, it said. In 2016, the AIVD chief discussed the operation in person with Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and National Security Agency Director Adm. Mike Rogers. A report in the Washington Post months later apparently revealed a bit more than they were comfortable with, and the report says that the Dutch intelligence sources have been more guarded with their information since that time.

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