US charges Sandworm hackers who mounted NotPetya, other high-profile attacks

The Sandworm Team hacking group is part of Unit 74455 of the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU), the US Department of Justice (DoJ) claimed as it unsealed an indictment against six hackers and alleged members on Monday. Sandworm Team attacks &… Continue reading US charges Sandworm hackers who mounted NotPetya, other high-profile attacks

US charges Russian GRU officers for NotPetya, other major hacks

A federal grand jury returned an indictment against six alleged Russian intelligence officers who, collectively, were responsible for “conducting the most disruptive and destructive series of computer attacks ever attributed to a single group,” the Justice Department announced Monday. Their attacks spanned the globe, including the worldwide 2017 NotPetya outbreak that did more than $1 billion in damage to a number of U.S. organizations, according to the indictment. The six accused hackers work for the Russian Main Intelligence Directorate, commonly known as the GRU, that’s been connected to interference in the 2016 U.S. election and other major cyberattacks. “No country has weaponized its cyber capabilities as maliciously or irresponsibly as Russia, wantonly causing unprecedented damage to pursue small tactical advantages and to satisfy fits of spite,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John Demers. “Today the Department has charged these Russian officers with conducting the most disruptive and destructive series of […]

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EU sanctions Russian intelligence, Chinese nationals and a North Korean front company for alleged hacks

The European Union has sanctioned six people and three organizations in Russia, China and North Korea in connection with three major cyberattacks dating back to 2017. EU officials announced Thursday they would enact restrictive measures against the people it deemed responsible for the WannaCry ransomware outbreak in 2017, the NotPetya campaign and Operation Cloud Hopper, a Chinese cyber-espionage effort. Penalties include a travel ban, asset freeze and prohibit people and organizations in the EU from “making funds available” to the sanctioned individuals and entities. The move follows previous U.S. allegations against many of the same parties. “Sanctions are one of the options available in the EU’s cyber diplomacy toolbox to prevent, deter and respond to malicious cyber activities directed against the EU or its member states, and today is the first time the EU has used this tool,” officials said in a statement. The sanctions name unit 74455 of Russia’s […]

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In rare move, State Department calls out Russia for attacks on Georgia last year

In a rare public announcement, the State Department is formally blaming Russian intelligence for a cyber incident that disrupted thousands of websites in Georgia last year. The incident, carried out by the Russian General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) last October, according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, disrupted and defaced thousands of Georgian government websites and the broadcast of two television stations. “This action contradicts Russia’s attempts to claim it is a responsible actor in cyberspace and demonstrates a continuing pattern of reckless Russian GRU cyber operations against a number of countries,” Pompeo said in a statement Thursday. “These operations aim to sow division, create insecurity, and undermine democratic institutions.” Thursday’s announcement was the first time the U.S. government connected the GRU to the hacking group known as Sandworm. The U.S. government has previously said Sandworm was responsible for the NotPetya worm and Olympic Destroyer attacks. The rare reprimand […]

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How the Cyber Grinch Stole Christmas: Managing Retailer Supply Chain Cyber Risk

Cyber threats are always a prominent risk to businesses, especially those operating with high quantities of customer information in the retail space, with over 50% of global retailers were breached last year.  BitSight VP, Jake Olcott, has written… Continue reading How the Cyber Grinch Stole Christmas: Managing Retailer Supply Chain Cyber Risk