12 Russian intelligence officers charged by US Govt for hacking Democratic officials

The US Department of Justice has charged 12 Russian intelligence officers with hacking Democratic officials in the 2016 US elections.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said the dozen accused used spear phishing emails and malicious software.

He said the hackers also stole data on half a million voters from a state election board website.

The Kremlin said there was no evidence linking the 12 to military intelligence or hacking.

Moscow's foreign ministry in a statement says the claims were "an old duck" and a heap of conspiracy schemes.

Today's indictment was the first by US officials to directly charge Russia's government with meddling in the US vote two years ago.

Source: BBC