Andre Yoskowitz
22 Nov 2012 0:12
The French cyber-warfare agency has accused the U.S. of hacking into former president Nicolas Sarkozy's PCs.
Computers of the president and close advisers including the Chief of Staff Musca were compromised in May by a virus that the agency claims is similar to the "Flame" virus that took down Iran's nuclear centrifuges.
Supposedly, the hacking took place just days before the presidential elections in which Sarkozy lost to socialist newcomer Francois Hollande.
President Obama's administration denied the allegations: "We categorically deny the allegations by unnamed sources that the U.S. government participated in a cyberattack against the French government. France is one of our strongest allies.
"Our outstanding cooperation in intelligence sharing, law enforcement and cyber defense has never been stronger, and remains essential in successfully combating the common threat of extremism."
Another official called the accusation "preposterous."