*WASHINGTON – Microsoft Corp said that hackers linked to Russia´sgovernment sought to launch cyber attacks on US political groups, warningthat Moscow is broadening attacks ahead of November´s congressionalelections.*

The world´s biggest software company said late on Monday that it last weektook control of six web domains that hackers had created to mimic websitesbelonging to the US Senate, two conservative think tanks and Microsoft´sOneDrive cloud storage service.

Hackers use fake sites in “phishing” schemes to trick users into providinglogin details for accessing computer networks and confidential systems suchas email accounts.

The domain takedowns represent Microsoft´s latest effort to thwart what itsays are hacking attempts by a group known as “Fancy Bear,” or APT28, thatis linked to the Russian government.

The company said it has shut down 84 fake websites in 12 court-approvedactions over the past two years.