WASHINGTON (AP) — A presidential candidate phone hacked. Fake video misleadingly shows burned ballots in Pennsylvania. National security officials warn that America’s enemies could incite violent protests after Election Day.

These developments — all revealed last week — show how Russia, China and Iran are stepping up efforts to interfere in American politics ahead of next month’s election, just as intelligence officials and security analysts say had guessed.

At the same time, authorities technology companies and private investigators adopted a more aggressive defense, quickly uncovering external election threats, highlighting lessons learned From past election cycles that have exposed America’s vulnerability to disinformation and cyberespionage.

Officials say The US election system is so secure No foreign nation can change the outcome on the scale required to change the outcome. Authoritarian adversaries, however, use disinformation and cyberespionage to target campaigns and voters while fueling distrust and discord.

Here’s what you need to know as the presidential election approaches:

Russia is the biggest threat

Russia is the most active and sophisticated country trying to manipulate US elections. fake websitesstate-controlled media and unknowingly Americans Spreading misleading and polarizing content intended to undermine confidence in elections.

The Kremlin’s disinformation apparatus covers controversial topics such as: migrationcrime, economy or disaster relief. The goal is to weaken the United States, erode support for Ukraine fighting Russian occupiers, and reduce America’s ability to counter Russia’s growing ties. Chinese, north korea And IranianOfficials said.

Intelligence officials and private security analysts found that: Russia supports former President Donald Trumpand sometimes uses AI-generated disinformation to smear his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump praised Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly suggested cutting funding to Ukraine. He criticized the NATO military alliance.

In one particularly bold campaign, Russia released a video accusing Harris of paralyzing a woman in a car crash years ago. Another video has been prepared fabricated allegations She’s up against Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

On Friday, the FBI confirmed Moscow’s role in creating an attack. third video It supposedly shows the destruction of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania. Local election officials quickly debunked the video as fake.

There is also Russia Tried to pay off American influencers Spreading the Kremlin’s preferred narratives. Last month, US officials accused two Russian state media employees Transferring $10 million to a Tennessee company to create pro-Russian content. The company then paid several popular right-wing influencers. I was not aware that his work was supported by Russia.

Moscow’s campaign Election Day won’t end. Instead, intelligence officials and private security analysts predict that Russia will use allegations of election irregularities to suggest that the results cannot be trusted. A. recently declassified intelligence memo He said Russia could still encourage violent protests after the election.

“Putin’s goal is to fuel chaos, division and polarization in our society,” said Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador to Russia who now teaches at Stanford University.

Russia has denied allegations that it tried to influence US elections. A message left at the Russian embassy in Washington was not immediately returned Saturday.

Iran’s hacking and leak operations

Iran was a particularly brazen player This year there was foreign intervention.

His Accused of hacking Trump campaign partners and providing stolen communications to media outlets and Democrats in the hopes of uncovering damaging stories that could damage Republican prospects. Dirty dangling emails Those messages were sent to people affiliated with President Joe Biden’s campaign, but there was no indication anyone responded, officials said.

Ministry of Justice last month Case filed against three Iranian hackers Those at large accuse them of a years-long operation that targeted scores of victims.

U.S. officials described the hack as part of a broader effort to interfere with elections that Iran perceives as particularly important. They say Iran has made clear its opposition to the Trump campaign. his administration Ended nuclear deal with Iranreimposed sanctions and gave instructions. Killing of Iranian General Qassem SoleimaniAn act that prompted Iran’s leaders to swear revenge.

In addition to cyber operations, U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed concern about the potential for Iran to use violence against Trump or other members of his administration on U.S. soil. Authorities leveled accusations in 2022 over Iran’s foiled plan. Killed Trump’s national security advisorJohn Bolton and was indicted this year A Pakistani man with links to Iran He is planning to potentially carry out political assassinations of Trump in the United States.

Leaders in Tehran may seek to encourage violent protests after the election, according to a declassified intelligence memo. Officials say Iran is also secretly Financed and supported protests in the US It’s about Israel’s war in Gaza.

Iranian officials have denied allegations that the country tried to influence the election. Iran’s mission to the United Nations issued a statement this week that said: “Iran has no intent or purpose to interfere in US elections.”

A neutral China?

US intelligence officials believe China is taking action a more neutral stance in the election and focused on down-ballot racesIt targets candidates from both parties based on their positions on issues key to Beijing. support for Taiwan.

But the Chinese government has been running a sophisticated hacking operation for years targeting Western life and industry that goes far beyond its electoral impact.

“They want access from the city council to the president,” said Adam Darrah, a former CIA political analyst who is vice president of intelligence at ZeroFox, a cybersecurity firm that tracks foreign online threats.

on friday, News came that there were Chinese hackers Cellphones used by Trump, his vice president J.D. Vance and people associated with the Harris campaign were targeted as part of a much broader spying effort. It was not immediately clear what data, if any, was accessed.

A spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said they were not familiar with the details and could not comment, but maintained that China routinely falls victim to cyber attacks and opposes this activity.

Are these tactics new?

Tough. Foreign adversaries, including those now accused of interfering, have attempted to interfere with varying degrees of success in the past few election cycles.

But the U.S. government, which has been accused of obtaining information about the extent of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election, has sought to aggressively address foreign threats this year as part of an effort to reduce their impact and reassure Americans that the election is secure.

Russian military intelligence officers in 2016 Email accounts were hacked It released a letter from Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman and the Democratic Party and released tens of thousands of communications in support of Trump’s successful presidential campaign.

That year in Russia massive but secret social media trolling campaign It aimed to create disagreement on current social issues, create division in the American election process, and harm Clinton’s presidential bid.

The oddities continued during the 2020 election period, with a Ukrainian member of parliament being described by US officials. as an “active Russian agent” ”, released audio recordings of Democrat Joe Biden, who was running for president at the time.

Same year, Iranian hackers blamed for emails It allegedly comes from the far-right group The Proud Boys, which authorities say is designed to harm Trump’s candidacy.

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