Long before new hacks us worried by russian spying efforts

You're referring to the concerns about Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election and beyond.

Yes, there were concerns about Russian spying efforts long before the 2016 election. Here are a few examples:

  1. Cold War era: During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union (Russia's predecessor) engaged in a long-standing espionage rivalry. The CIA and other US intelligence agencies were aware of Russian spying efforts, and vice versa.
  2. 1990s-2000s: In the 1990s and early 2000s, there were reports of Russian espionage activities in the United States, including allegations of spying on US military and defense industries. In 2001, the FBI arrested several Russian spies who were operating in the US, leading to a significant increase in US-Russia espionage tensions.
  3. 2008-2012: During the Obama administration, there were concerns about Russian cyber espionage activities, including hacking into US government and private sector networks. In 2010, the US indicted five Russian military officers for hacking into the computer systems of major US corporations, including Google and Yahoo.
  4. 2012-2016: In the years leading up to the 2016 election, there were reports of Russian cyber espionage activities targeting US political organizations, including the Democratic National Committee (DNC). In 2014, the US indicted five Russian military officers for hacking into the DNC's computer systems.

However, it's worth noting that the 2016 election marked a significant escalation in Russian interference efforts, which included:

  1. Hacking of political organizations: Russian hackers breached the DNC's computer systems and released sensitive information, including emails and documents, to influence the election.
  2. Disinformation campaigns: Russia launched disinformation campaigns on social media and other platforms to spread false information and sow discord among the American public.
  3. Influence operations: Russia used its state-controlled media outlets and other channels to promote pro-Russian narratives and undermine the legitimacy of the US political system.

The 2016 election interference efforts were widely condemned by the US government and intelligence agencies, and led to a significant increase in US-Russia tensions.