Microsoft: Russia behind 58% of detected state-backed hacks

By FRANK BAJAK
AP Technology Writer

BOSTON (AP) — Microsoft says Russia once again accounted for most state-sponsored hacking, with a 58% share of intrusion attempts it detected in the past year. The targets were mostly government agencies and think tanks — in the United States, followed by Ukraine, Britain and European NATO members. The devastating effectiveness of the long-undetected SolarWinds hack also boosted Russian state-backed hackers’ success rate — to 32%, compared with 21% in the preceding 12 months. China accounted for fewer than 1 in 10 of the state-backed hacking attempts Microsoft detected. Those are among findings of the Redmond, Washington-based company’s annual Digital Defense Report, which covers the year ending June 30.