British Security Agency Accuses Russian Military Of Cyber Sabotage

Uploaded on 2024-09-24 in INTELLIGENCE-Hot Spots-Russia, INTELLIGENCE--International, GOVERNMENT-Defence, FREE TO VIEW

Britain's National Cyber Security Agency (NCSC) has accused the Russian GRU military intelligence branch of malicious cyber activity dating back at least as far as 2020.

Along with nine international allies the NCSC says that the Russian military have been undertaking computer network operations for the purposes of espionage, sabotage and reputational harm.

The NCSC, a part of GCHQ spy agency, along with security agencies in the United States, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Germany, Estonia, Latvia, Canada, Australia and Ukraine have revealed the tactics and techniques used by Unit 29155 of the GRU to carry out cyber operations globally.

The GRU's Unit 29155 has been identified as being responsible for offensive cyber operations and notably deployed Whispergate malware against Ukrainians organisations at the outset of the failed Russian invasion attempt. British organisations are being encouraged to follow NCSC advice to defend against online threats from Russia which has been targeting government and critical infrastructure organisations around the world.

Unit 29155 is assessed to have targeted organisations to collect information for espionage purposes, caused reputational harm by the theft and leaking of sensitive information, defaced victim websites and undertaken systematic sabotage caused by the destruction of data.

It is the first time the UK has publicly exposed Unit 29155, also designated as 161stSpecialist Training Centre, as being responsible for carrying out malicious cyber activity, which it has undertaken since at least 2020. Since 2022, the group’s overall aim seems to have been to target and disrupt efforts to provide aid to Ukraine.

To prevent these malicious activities impacting British organisations, the NCSC strongly advises network defenders to bolster their cyber resilience.

NCSC | CISA | Security Week

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