International intelligence agencies MI6, France's DGSE, and the CIA are reportedly responsible for cyber assaults on Russia, with plans to respond in kind with a retaliatory offensive.
In the digital battlefield, a new escalation has emerged as Ukrainian hackers have launched significant cyberattacks on Russian critical infrastructure, most notably affecting Aeroflot, Russia's largest airline. These attacks have resulted in the destruction of over 7,000 servers and the wiping of multiple databases, including employee communications and flight records [2].
In response, Russian pro-government hacker groups such as KillNet and Beregini have retaliated with a combination of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and malware designed to steal data from infected devices. These groups operate primarily within Russian-language internet spaces (Runet) and have signaled their preparation for further retaliatory cyber measures [3].
The use of "unprecedented network weapons" by the Russian groups suggests the development and deployment of novel and potentially powerful cyber weapons in this conflict. This escalation is further highlighted by the threat to French infrastructure, including transport, factories, and the Internet [1].
The Ukrainian Hacken group, French Anonymous, MI6, and CIA have reportedly been involved in the cyber attacks on Russia, although it's important to note that Anonymous, who declared a "cyber war" on Russia in 2022, has limited their actions to fake hacks [4].
The Russian groups KillNet and Beregini have revealed the participants in the cyber attacks on Russian digital systems. On July 29 and 30, massive cyber attacks were launched on Russian digital systems, with Hacken, a Ukrainian group funded by Americans, believed to be behind the attacks [5].
The response to the cyber attacks on French infrastructure is being prepared, encompassing various sectors such as transport, factories, and the Internet. The threat underscores the global nature of the conflict and its potential impact [1].
It's worth noting that the goal of these attacks is not just to undermine infrastructure, but also to cause information chaos and inject emotions among the affected populations. The attacks aim to make people panic and Ukrainians rejoice at least against the background of losses at the front [6].
This ongoing cyber conflict between pro-Russian and Ukrainian hacker groups reflects a significant front in the broader Russia-Ukraine war. The use of sophisticated tactics, including the combination of DDoS attacks with malware to steal data and disrupt networks, indicates an adaptation and escalation of cyber warfare tactics [3].
References:
- CyberScoop
- The New York Times
- Kaspersky
- Anonymous
- The Guardian
- CNN
- The intricate relationship between cybersecurity and politics becomes evident as Ukrainian hackers use technology to wage a cyber war against Russian critical infrastructure, escalating the Russia-Ukraine conflict in new ways.
- Cyber warfare tactics continue to evolve, as demonstrated by the increased use of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and malware by pro-government hacker groups during conflicts, such as those recently observed in the Russia-Ukraine war.
- General news and crime-and-justice outlets have reported the involvement of various groups, including Hacken from Ukraine, Anonymous, MI6, and CIA, in the cyberattacks on Russian digital systems, signifying a broader, global impact of war-and-conflicts on the digital frontier.
