Russia Says Malware Found in 20 of Country’s Computer Networks

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said that the computer networks of about 20 Russian organizations, government agencies and defense contractors have been infected with malware designed for cyber espionage.

The virus and the way the networks were infected bear similar characteristics to the software used in high-profile cyber espionage cases in Russia and worldwide, the FSB said in a statement on its website Saturday.

«The analysis found that spyware affected the information resources of public authorities and management bodies, scientific and military organizations, military-industrial complex enterprises and other facilities of the country’s vital infrastructure,» the statement said.

Russia’s intelligence agency did not say who is suspected of being behind the attacks, but the announcement came after recent reports of cyber-attacks on the U.S. Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the fundraising committee for Democratic Party candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives.

U.S. cyber security experts and Democratic Party officials have pointed to Russian involvement in both of those computer penetrations, heightening speculation that Moscow is trying to influence the U.S. presidential election in favor of Republican candidate Donald Trump.

The Kremlin has denied any involvement.