u.s. government spend decade prepare responses malicious hack foreign power clear strategy russia launch disinformation campaign internet u.s. election campaign current former white house cyber security advisers say far effort go plot offensive hack prepare defenses less probable dramatic damage electronic assault power grid financial system direct manipulation vote machine last several years u.s. intelligence agencies track russia use coordinate hack disinformation ukraine elsewhere advisers intelligence experts say little sustain high-level government conversation risk propaganda come unite state presidential election extent may alter outcome security source say u.s. officials felt limit investigate russian-supported propaganda efforts free speech guarantee constitution former white house official caution u.s. government attempt counter flow foreign state-backed disinformation deterrence would face major political legal moral obstacles would massive surveillance curtail freedom cost will accept say former official speak condition anonymity russia control distribution information ways t. clinton watts security consultant former fbi agent fellow nonprofit foreign policy research institute say u.s. government long organization u.s. information agency provide counter-narratives cold war say major russian disinformation campaign unite state europe start russian-government fund media outlets rt television sputnik news amplify twitter others watts say urgent u.s. government build capability track happen online dispute false stories two things need do immediately watts say public statement lead conspiracy theories defense spend pill pass month call state department establish global engagement center take work similar efforts counter less sophisticate islamic state narratives fall short u.s. government formally accuse russia campaign cyber attack u.s. political organizations october month nov. election jam lewis cyber security expert center strategic international study work departments state commerce u.s. military say washington need move beyond antiquate notions project influence hop catch russia rt know send carrier battle group lewis say go stick find way deal that watts say track tens thousands pro-russia twitter handle since 2014 believe many effective stories stoke fear war calamities promote narrative corrupt western politicians media elites others say sputnik show intensity russian effort launch two years ago successor official russian wire service radio network sputnik merely parrot kremlin political line accord experts go way hire outsiders social media expertise include leave right-leaning americans critical u.s. policies sputnik news respond request comment election campaign one prominent fulltime sputnik writers commentators cassandra fairbanks shift ardent anti-police protestor supporter socialist u.s. senator bernie sanders vocal backer republican donald trump fairbanks say interview reuters sputnik tell advocate trump president-elect say sway trump opposition overseas war international trade agreements best push fairbanks say free will woman thirties 80,000 twitter followers fairbanks activist hack movement know anonymous join sputnik day election fairbanks say youtube channel pretty likely author email hack account democratic candidate hillary clinton campaign manager john podesta use code word pedophilia speak pizza assertion feed falsehood clinton supporters operate child sex ring washington-based pizza parlor channel 1.8 million subscribers run alex jones radio host say 9/11 attack inside job joe fionda veteran occupy protest work briefly sputnik 2015 say organization article social media efforts overall aim praise russian president vladimir putin ally syria dwell negative news unite state include police misconduct u.s. officials political analysts say putin could believe businessman trump would friendly russia clinton especially come economic sanction fionda say spread hack email priority sputnik say job include try create viral memes facebook page call mutinous media list sputnik connection former workers democratic national committee one group infiltrate russian-backed hackers say u.s. government consider provide fund technological defense major political party say hack email begin appear online party functionaries constantly behind respond also say staff democratic president barack obama overly concern appear defend party candidate obama ask spy agencies deliver analysis russian meddle election include discussion propaganda operations office director national intelligence general counsel robert litt tell reuters ask tuesday whether think u.s. government catch guard litt say touch 11-foot pole important issue intelligence community look carefully issue report due time u.s. government lose russia 's disinformation campaign advisers