US intelligence: Foreign hackers spying on presidential campaigns

WASHINGTON — The United States sees evidence of hackers, possibly working for foreign governments, snooping on the presidential candidates, the nation’s intelligence chief said Wednesday.

Hacking was rampant in 2008, according to U.S. intelligence officials, and both President Obama and Mitt Romney were targets of Chinese cyberattacks four years later.

The revelation comes after Clapper’s office released a document this month saying foreign intelligence services tracked the 2008 presidential election cycle “like no other.”

The document was in a slideshow used to warn incoming Obama administration officials that their new jobs could make them prey for spies.

Eight years ago, foreign intelligence services “met with campaign contacts and staff, used human source networks for policy insights, exploited technology to get otherwise sensitive data, engaged in perception management to influence policy,” it said.

[...] as the political conventions and general election near, they worry about a well-timed, sophisticated attack by a government to help a candidate.