THE Dutch spy service broke into computers used by a powerful Russian hacking group and may be sitting on evidence relating to the breach of the US Democratic National Committee, reports say.
Respected daily newspaper Volkskrant and TV current affairs show Nieuwsuur said hackers working for the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service penetrated the computers used by the group, often nicknamed Cosy Bear, in mid-2014 and watched them for at least a year, even catching them on camera.
Dutch officials declined to comment.
Interior minister Kajsa Ollongren said she was “very happy that we have good security services in the Netherlands that do their work well. I can’t say anything about this case that has been published”.
The Dutch spies are said to have used their access to help oust Cosy Bear from US State Department computers in late 2014, with American spies sending cake and flowers to show their gratitude.
Cosy Bear was later identified as one of two Russian government-linked hacking groups that broke into the DNC ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The other is usually called Fancy Bear, but the groups are thought to work independently.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here