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New warnings that Russian operatives are targeting the emails of US nuclear scientists and defense contractors
Summary by The El Paso Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by CNN Newsource , KVIA ABC-7
· July 23, 2026
· 3 min read
By Sean Lyngaas, CNN (CNN) — A group of Russian hackers has spent the last year targeting nuclear scientists, defense contractors, and government employees in a cyber-espionage campaign, according to private-sector researchers and warnings from spy agencies released Thursday. Their targets sugges...
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The El Paso Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Original reporting CNN Newsource, KVIA ABC-7 Original story Read at the source Source published Jul 23, 2026 Indexed here Jul 24, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway The hackers were “targeting entities and users with an interest in nuclear fusion,” Proofpoint researcher Greg Lesnewich told CNN.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The revelation that Russian operatives are targeting US nuclear scientists and defense contractors has significant implications for El Paso, given the city's proximity to major military installations and research facilities. As a hub for defense contractors and with a strong presence of military personnel, El Paso's email systems and digital infrastructure may be vulnerable to such cyber-espionage campaigns. The fact that the hackers are using rare software exploits to steal sensitive information, including email communications and directories, raises concerns about the potential for local businesses and organizations to be compromised. El Paso's business community, particularly those involved in defense and energy sectors, should be vigilant about their email security and take necessary precautions to protect themselves from such threats. The city's government and law enforcement agencies should also be prepared to respond to any potential breaches and work with federal agencies to assess the damage and prevent future attacks.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: parks ·
Published: July 23, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 3 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By Sean Lyngaas, CNN (CNN) — A group of Russian hackers has spent the last year targeting nuclear scientists, defense contractors, and government employees in a cyber-espionage campaign, according to private-sector researchers and warnings from spy agencies released Thursday. Their targets sugges...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 23, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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