Is Your Facebook Friend a Russian Hacker?

The facebook page of Melvin Redick seemed innocent enough. His profile photo showed a friendly-looking American posing with his daughter. He said he lived in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and had graduated from Central High School.

But Redick, it turns out, was the fictional creation of Russians. The charming photos were actually stolen from the Facebook account of a Brazilian man (see graphic, at top).

The real purpose of the Facebook page, posted during the presidential campaign of 2016, was to direct readers to a website called DCLeaks. The site featured emails hacked from the computers of the Democratic Party and false stories damaging to Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate for president. The Russians’ intent, U.S. officials say, was to boost the campaign of Republican Donald Trump.

It’s now clear that Russian operatives created hundreds of fake accounts on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram to “sow discord in the U.S. political system, including the 2016 presidential election,” according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Facebook page of Melvin Redick seemed innocent enough. His profile photo showed a friendly-looking American posing with his daughter. He said he lived in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and had graduated from Central High School.

But it turns out that Redick was not real. He was the creation of Russians. The charming photos were actually stolen from the Facebook account of a Brazilian man (see graphic, at top).

The Facebook page was posted during the presidential campaign of 2016. The page’s real purpose was to direct readers to a website called DCLeaks. The site featured emails hacked from the computers of the Democratic Party. It also had false stories damaging to Hillary Clinton. She was the Democratic candidate for president. U.S. officials say the Russians intended to boost the campaign of Republican Donald Trump.

It is now clear that Russian operatives created hundreds of fake accounts on social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the purpose of the accounts was to “sow discord in the U.S. political system, including the 2016 presidential election.”

“The [Russians’] themes are consistent across platforms,” Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff of California has said: “to help Donald Trump, to hurt Hillary Clinton, and the desire to set Americans against each other.”

Was Russian President Vladimir Putin behind this campaign? Perhaps. U.S. intelligence officials concluded last year that he was responsible for hacking the Democrats’ computers. But why?

Former FBI director Robert Mueller has been appointed as a special counsel by the Justice Department to investigate the matter. His team also continues to probe whether any member of the Trump campaign “colluded with” (actively aided) the Russians. President Trump strongly denies that any collusion took place. 

In February, the Justice Department handed down an indictment against 13 Russians. The document adds many pieces to the puzzle of what happened in the 2016 election—and what experts warn could easily happen again. 

“The [Russians’] themes are consistent across platforms,” Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff of California has said. They are “to help Donald Trump, to hurt Hillary Clinton, and the desire to set Americans against each other.”

Was Russian President Vladimir Putin behind this campaign? Perhaps. U.S. intelligence officials concluded last year that he was responsible for hacking the Democrats’ computers. But why?

Robert Mueller is a former FBI director. He has been appointed as a special counsel by the Justice Department to investigate the matter. Mueller’s team also continues to look into whether any member of the Trump campaign “colluded with” (actively aided) the Russians. President Trump strongly denies that any collusion took place.

In February, the Justice Department handed down an indictment against 13 Russians. That document adds many pieces to the puzzle of what happened in the 2016 election. Experts warn that such events could easily happen again.

The Justice Department indictment traces the 13 Russians back to a shadowy firm called the Internet Research Agency (IRA). From an ordinary office building in St. Petersburg, Russia, this group ran a “troll farm”—an organization that churns out social media posts. 

Starting in 2014, the IRA used fake Facebook groups to spread inflammatory content on issues such as immigration and race. One group called Secured Borders falsely warned of a “huge upsurge of violence toward American citizens” by Muslim refugees. Another named Heart of Texas promoted Texas seceding from the U.S. 

Some of those groups attracted hundreds of thousands of followers. The Russians’ posts reached an estimated 126 million Americans on Facebook alone.

The Justice Department indictment traces the 13 Russians back to a shadowy firm called the Internet Research Agency (IRA). From an ordinary office building in St. Petersburg, Russia, this group ran a “troll farm.” A troll farm is an organization that churns out social media posts.

Starting in 2014, the IRA used fake Facebook groups to spread inflammatory content on issues such as immigration and race. One group was called Secured Borders. It falsely warned of a “huge upsurge of violence toward American citizens” by Muslim refugees. 

Another fake group was named Heart of Texas. It promoted Texas seceding from the U.S.

Some of those groups attracted hundreds of thousands of followers. The Russians’ posts reached an estimated 126 million Americans on Facebook alone.

During the election campaign, the IRA also paid for a steady stream of anti-Clinton political ads on social media. Some falsely said that Clinton was under investigation for committing voter fraud. Thousands of bots spread tweets with hashtags like #Hillary4Prison, flooding the web with Trump’s claims that Clinton was “crooked.”

Meanwhile, IRA operatives posing as Americans contacted Trump supporters in closely contested states such as Florida and Pennsylvania to help promote or organize pro-Trump events. Then, as the election approached, the Russians tried to discourage support for Clinton among traditional Democratic voters.

During the election campaign, the IRA also paid for a steady stream of anti-Clinton political ads on social media. Some falsely said that Clinton was under investigation for committing voter fraud. Thousands of bots spread tweets with hashtags like #Hillary4Prison. The bots filled the web with Trump’s claims that Clinton was “crooked.”

Meanwhile, IRA operatives posing as Americans contacted Trump supporters in closely contested states such as Florida and Pennsylvania. The operatives helped to promote or organize pro-Trump events. As the election approached, the Russians tried to discourage support for Clinton among traditional Democratic voters.

Regardless of whether Putin gave a direct order, say experts, Russia’s interference in the election reflects his hostility toward the U.S.—and Clinton, who angered him during her time as U.S. secretary of state under President Barack Obama. 

The disinformation campaign is also a legacy of the long conflict between Russia and the U.S.

Regardless of whether Putin gave a direct order, say experts, Russia’s interference in the election reflects Putin’s hostility toward the U.S. It also shows his fury toward Clinton. She angered him during her time as U.S. secretary of state under President Barack Obama.

The disinformation campaign is also a result of the long conflict between Russia and the U.S.

For decades, Russia was the dominant force in the Soviet Union. The massive Communist country made up of 15 republics controlled most of Eastern Europe and was America’s greatest rival in the Cold War (1947-1991). During that struggle, the two nations spread their competing systems of Communism and democracy through political and military clashes around the globe.

Over time, the Soviet economy weakened, and many of its republics began to seek freedom. In 1991, the Soviet Union broke up into 15 nations, including Russia.

For decades, Russia was the dominant force in the Soviet Union. That massive Communist country was made up of 15 republics. It controlled most of Eastern Europe. The Soviet Union was America’s greatest rival in the Cold War (1947-1991). During that struggle, the two nations spread their competing systems of Communism and democracy through political and military clashes around the globe.

Over time, the Soviet economy weakened. Many of its republics began to seek freedom. In 1991, the Soviet Union broke up into 15 nations, including Russia.

To much of the world, it seemed that the U.S. had won the Cold War. A number of former Soviet republics and Eastern European nations allied themselves with the West. To date, nine such countries have joined NATO, a military partnership led by the U.S. (see map, below).

Putin, who once worked for the KGB, the Soviet spy agency, came to power in 1999. Historians say he was infuriated by what he saw as the spread of U.S. influence into former Soviet areas.

To much of the world, it seemed that the U.S. had won the Cold War. A number of former Soviet republics and Eastern European nations allied themselves with the West. To date, nine such countries have joined NATO, a military partnership led by the U.S. (see map, below).

Putin once worked for the KGB, a Soviet spy agency. He came to power in 1999. Historians say he was angered by what he saw as the spread of U.S. influence into former Soviet areas.

In February 2014, the U.S. supported an uprising in Ukraine, Russia’s neighbor. The country’s pro-Russia government was forced from power. Russia then invaded Ukraine, seizing some of its territory, and backed pro-Russian separatists with arms and troops. 

The U.S. and other Western countries responded by imposing economic sanctions, or penalties, on Russia. Those sanctions helped cause a sharp economic decline in the country. 

Since the crisis in Ukraine, says Darden, “Russia has been on a war footing with the U.S.” 

Then in 2015, Clinton announced her candidacy for president. As U.S. secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, Clinton was a vocal critic of Russian power and encouraged anti-Putin protesters. If she were to be elected president, “the Russians believed that Clinton would increase the confrontation in Ukraine,” Darden says. As the U.S. election approached, Putin seemed prepared to take extreme measures to keep Clinton from winning.

Ukraine is one of Russia’s neighbors. In February 2014, the U.S. supported an uprising there. Ukraine’s pro-Russia government was forced from power. Russia then invaded Ukraine, seizing some of its territory. It also backed pro-Russian separatists with arms and troops.

The U.S. and other Western countries responded by setting economic sanctions, or penalties, on Russia. Those sanctions helped cause a sharp economic decline in the country.

Since the crisis in Ukraine, says Darden, “Russia has been on a war footing with the U.S.”

Then in 2015, Clinton announced her candidacy for president. She was U.S. secretary of state from 2009 to 2013. Clinton was a vocal critic of Russian power and encouraged anti-Putin protesters. If she were to be elected president, “the Russians believed that Clinton would increase the confrontation in Ukraine,” Darden says. As the U.S. election approached, Putin seemed prepared to take extreme measures to keep Clinton from winning.

Putin’s ultimate goal, according to experts, is simple: to make Russia great again. They say he is waging a new Cold War—one he is determined to win.

In many ways, Russia’s cyber offensive brings that conflict to mind. During the Cold War, both the U.S. and the Soviet Union tried to influence each other’s internal politics in numerous ways—including by spreading false information in the other’s media. 

Today, the internet makes this much easier to do. The web provides a vast new battleground for spreading disinformation and fanning national conflicts. 

Experts believe the recent Russian cyberattack is especially troubling because of its enormous scale. The U.S. isn’t yet prepared to fight it, they say.  Neither are such Western European nations as Germany and Denmark, which also have been the victims of web-based assaults.

Putin’s top goal, according to experts, is simple. He wants to make Russia great again. They say he is waging a new Cold War. This war is one he is determined to win.

In many ways, Russia’s cyber offensive brings the Cold War to mind. During that conflict, both the U.S. and the Soviet Union tried to influence each other’s internal politics in numerous ways. That included spreading false information in the other’s media.

Today, the internet makes this much easier to do. The web provides a large new battleground for spreading disinformation and fanning national conflicts.

Experts believe the recent Russian cyberattack is especially troubling because of its massive size. The U.S. is not yet prepared to fight it, they say. Neither are such Western European nations as Germany and Denmark. Those nations have also been the victims of web-based assaults.

“We will never know for certain whether Russia’s intervention changed the outcome of the 2016 election,” write Russia experts Robert Blackwill and Philip Gordon of the Council on Foreign Relations. “The point is that it tried.”

Last month, U.S. intelligence officials warned Congress that Russians had learned key lessons from their interference in 2016 and will use them to meddle in our midterm elections this fall. “We should expect that . . . they’re going to come back in a much more sophisticated way,” said Douglas Lute, a security director under President George W. Bush.

Along with lawmakers, Facebook and other tech companies are trying to prevent similar cyberattacks in the future. But it won’t be easy. 

Meanwhile, Trump has mostly dismissed accusations of Russian meddling as “a hoax.” But after the indictments were announced in February, he seemed frustrated by all the finger pointing and the many news stories that have resulted from Russia’s actions. 

“If it was the GOAL of Russia to create discord, disruption, and chaos within the U.S.,” Trump tweeted, “they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.” 

“We will never know for certain whether Russia’s intervention changed the outcome of the 2016 election,” write Russia experts Robert Blackwill and Philip Gordon. They work for the Council on Foreign Relations. “The point is that it tried.”

Last month, U.S. intelligence officials warned Congress that Russians had learned key lessons from their interference in 2016 and will use them to meddle in our midterm elections this fall. “We should expect that . . . they’re going to come back in a much more sophisticated way,” said Douglas Lute. He was a security director under President George W. Bush.

Along with lawmakers, Facebook and other tech companies are trying to prevent similar cyberattacks in the future. But it will not be easy.

Meanwhile, Trump has mostly dismissed accusations of Russian meddling as “a hoax.” But after the indictments were announced in February, he seemed frustrated by all the finger pointing and the many news stories that have resulted from Russia’s actions.

“If it was the GOAL of Russia to create discord, disruption, and chaos within the U.S.,” Trump tweeted, “they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.”