Russian Hackers Will Be Major Issue in 2017 says Proofpoint CEO

Trump mocks the idea that Russian hackers interfered with the election. Proofpoint CEO Gary Steele says it's too early to tell, but state-sponsored hacking will be an issue in 2017.

Author:: Gregg Greenberg
Publish date:: Dec 12, 2016 12:09 PM EST

President-Elect Donald Trump is mocking the idea that Russian hackers interfered with the election on his behalf. Gary Steele, CEO of cybersecurity specialist Proofpoint (PFPT) - Get Report , says it's too early to tell, but it is quite clear that the threat state-sponsored hacking will continue to be a major issue in 2017. Proofpoint customers comprise more than 25% of the Fortune 100, including seven of the top 10 U.S. retailers, Five of the top 10 global pharmaceutical companies and five of the top 10 U.S. oil companies, according to the company. And while individuals may be somewhat fatigued about even the thought of email hacking in the wake of the Hillary Clinton email and server scandals, Steele said companies and individuals must remain vigilant. Mobile hacking is also on the rise. Steeles said individuals need to protect their phones and themselves by performing due diligence before adding an app to a smartphone.