Spy chief warns about hackers hitting financial markets

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, left, and CIA Director John Brennan, right, arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, ,Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, to testify before the House Intelligence Committee hearing on cyber attacks. Clapper told the committee that cyber attacks against American interests are likely to continue, in part because hackers face a low risk of consequences. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

(Bloomberg) — Hacking attacks designed to alter electronic data, rather than steal it, may grow more common as terrorists and criminals seek to undermine the integrity of financial markets in the future, the head of U.S. intelligence is warning lawmakers.

“We might also see more cyber operations that will change or manipulate electronic information in order to compromise its integrity,” Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said in testimony prepared for a House intelligence committee hearing Thursday in Washington. “Decision making by senior government officials (civilian and military), corporate executives, investors or others will be impaired if they cannot trust the information they are receiving.”