Relevant (or at least a-propos) post by Bruce Schneier, from a month ago: "Someone Is Learning How to Take Down the Internet" https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2016/09/someone_is_le... Edit: And to be clear: I don't mean to imply there's any connection :)
As @scrollaway mentioned, 6 weeks ago, Bruce Schneier posted that several companies told him that they're detecting attempts to probe their networks and find ways to bring it down https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2016/09/someone_is_le...
Now let's look at the progress of events:
- Hillary Clinton's personal email server was hacked a while ago.
- A lone hacker published a document obtained by hacking the DNC servers. The document includes opposition research on Donald Trump and how Hillary can attack him in the election.
- Wikileaks published emails obtained by hacking the DNC
- US intelligence agencies confirmed that Russia was behind the DNC hack
- It was reported that the CIA is starting a cyber attack against Russian targets. http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cia-prepping-possible-cy...
- This is happening while the war in Syria and Iraq is growing. The Russians are there to "fight ISIS" but they have deployed an air defense system even though ISIS doesn't have any air force.
- Russia's only air craft carrier is trespassing through UK waters to get to Syria in a show of force that doesn't really add anything to their military capabilities there.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/20/russian-fleet-...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/19/convoy-of-russ...
- Finland (yes, Finland) is increasingly worried about Russia. They violated their air space, and they're questioning Finland's independence. Finland shares a long boarder with Russia.
http://www.businessinsider.com/r-finland-sees-propaganda-att...
- US ships were attacked near Yemen after they're bombed some targets the belong to the rebels. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/13/us-enters-ye...
- US election is in 3 weeks and Donald Trump is openly in love with Putin. Trump questioned the benefit of NATO which is the basis for Europe stability after the 2nd world war.
Say Hello to World War III, everybody!