Attackers are testing additional ransomware capabilities that are also used to mask more malicious activity.
Russian hackers are probably preparing a new wave of cyberattacks against Ukraine, as well as organizations from other countries that provide assistance to Kyiv. This is stated in a report by Microsoft, published on Wednesday, March 15, Reuters reports.
The document, prepared by the Cybersecurity Research and Analysis Team, contains several predictions of Russian hacker activity during the war.
“Since January 2023, Microsoft has been watching how Russian cyber groups organize their activities to increase their destructive influence and collect intelligence information about civilian and military facilities in Ukraine and its partners,” the authors of the report note.
According to them, a group “appears to be preparing for a new destructive campaign.”
Microsoft has learned that a particularly active Russian hacking group known as Sandworm is testing “additional ransomware capabilities that could be used to devastatingly target organizations outside of Ukraine that perform key role in supply chains.”
Attacks using these programs typically involve hackers breaking into organizations’ servers, encrypting data, and extorting money in exchange for regaining access. Ransomware is also used to mask more malicious activities such as data destruction (so-called “cleaners”).
It was noted that since January 2022, Microsoft has detected at least nine different “cleaners” and two types of ransomware used against more than 100 Ukrainian organizations.
Covert Russian cyber operations aimed at compromising Ukrainian organizations in the West have also increased, according to the report.
“In the Americas and Europe, especially in neighboring Ukraine, Russian threat actors are trying to gain access to government and commercial organizations involved in supporting Ukraine,” said Clint Watts, CEO of Microsoft Digital Threat Intelligence Center.
It was previously reported that Russian hackers were suspected of attacking the website of the Polish Tax Service.
Remember, according to the SBU, Russian hackers every day make an average of more than ten cyber attacks in Ukraine.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.