Security Experts Concerned Over Impact of DNC Email Hack

The FBI announced it is investigating what they call "a cyber intrusion" of the DNC.

While the disruption at the Democratic National Convention, fueled by leaked emails, was absent in prime time coverage of the convention, security experts are concerned the DNC hack could have a far greater impact on the election.

Although cyber security experts suspect the attack came from Russia, the FBI is still investigating.

Experts say the danger is that this kind of attack appears to have been designed to influence the U.S. election.

β€œIt's almost like we've evolved into the next version of the cold war,” said retired Rear Admiral Ken Slaght, President of the San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence. β€œIt wouldn't surprise me if the Russians did something like this and it wouldn't surprise me if they are using it to their advantage to somehow influence our election.”

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange spoke to NBC News from an Ecuadorian embassy in London, commenting on the possibility of Russia being behind the attack on the DNC. 

β€œWell there is no proof of that whatsoever. We have not disclosed our source and of course, this is a diversion that's being pushed by the Hillary Clinton campaign,” he said.

Other security experts told NBC News that Russian Military Intelligence and the new KGB were behind the leaked emails. The goal was to create chaos and help Donald Trump win the election, in part, because of his stance on NATO which is beneficial to Putin.

Cyber security expert Ted Harrington, an Executive Partner with Independent Security Evaluations, said the purpose of a nation state attack is to do significant harm.

β€œTo interact with and or disrupt the activities, the activities of their foes,” he said.

But despite much evidence pointing to Russia, there could be another group behind the DNC attack.

β€œThose same indicators could have been another organization intending to make it look like it was Russian in an attempt to cover their own tracks,” Harrington said.

The FBI announced it is investigating what they call "a cyber intrusion involving the DNC and are working to determine the nature and scope of the matter."

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