Exclusive: Ukraine says it sees surge in cyber attacks targeting election

FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian Cyber Police Chief Serhiy Demedyuk speaks during an interview with Reuters in Kiev, Ukraine November 2, 2017. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo

KIEV (Reuters) - Hackers likely controlled by Russia are stepping up efforts to disrupt Ukraine's presidential election in March with cyber attacks on electoral servers and personal computers of election staff, the head of Ukraine's cyber police said on Friday.

Serhiy Demedyuk told Reuters the attackers were using virus-infected greeting cards, shopping invitations, offers for software updates and other malicious "phishing" material intended to steal passwords and personal information.