Researchers have found no evidence that Russia has interfered with the upcoming 2018 midterm elections in the U.S., The Daily Beast reports.
In the first week of October 2016, cyber security experts found that Russia was directly involved in the leaking of Democratic National Committee emails by WikiLeaks, and the well-known “troll factory” in St. Petersburg had organized multiple rallies supporting President Donald Trump and opposing Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
This year, researchers have so far found no evidence of similar interference.
“I think everyone is expecting the 2016 shock and awe,” said Robert Johnston, the CEO of cybersecurity company Adlumin. “They needed that level of action in 2016 to achieve their objective. They don’t need that today. Today is a much different America than 2016.”
Johnston added that Russia is “always focused in the Caucasus, the Baltics, and Europe. Putin views the United States as something to be dealt with, but Europe as the threat. So they’re always going to be focused there.”
FireEye threat intelligence manager John Hultquist said, "The rewards of steering Congressional outcomes may be outweighed by the risk of further solidifying opposition to Russi. Information operations benefit from surprise and an unwary public.
"It’s important we talk about this threat, because awareness inoculates us. Hopefully, we are more aware, and that has entered the Russian calculus.”