The sanctions list includes two individuals associated with an advanced persistent threat (APT) group sponsored by the Russian Federal Security Service.
On Thursday, December 7, the United States and Great Britain imposed sanctions against two Russians linked to the Russian FSB. This was reported by the US Department of the Treasury.
“Today, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in coordination with the United Kingdom, designated two individuals associated with an advanced persistent threat (APT) group sponsored by the Russian Federal Security Service, ” said the statement.
The Kremlin uses the FSB to advance Kremlin interests and try to undermine the interests of the United States, its allies and partners. The FSB uses its cyber capabilities to enhance espionage, influence and intrusion campaigns.
The US Treasury reports that FSB officer Ruslan Aleksandrovich Peretyatko and IT worker from Syktyvkar Andrey Stanislavovich Korenets were involved in targeted phishing activities.
It is reported that between 2016 and 2020, Korenets created and registered an infrastructure of malicious domains for phishing campaigns targeting the FSB, anonymously creating shortened URL links embedded in the phishing email.
At least 39 domains were created through five different registrars, using aliases and fake names to hide them. From its activation until the end of 2019, the fake email account purporting to impersonate a retired US Air Force general sent at least 20 spear phishing emails, including domains created by Korenc.
Peretyatko used multiple email addresses created to impersonate legitimate management accounts of well-known technology companies to send spear-phishing emails. Some of the emails contain domain infrastructure created by Korenc.
It was noted that the FSB’s spear phishing campaigns were designed to gain access to email accounts, maintain continued access to the accounts and associated networks, and obtain and potentially leak sensitive information to advance the political goals of the Kremlin.
Earlier, the media reported that the European Commission agreed to ban diamonds from the Russian Federation. A corresponding proposal has already been sent to 27 EU countries as part of the 12th sanctions package. Unanimous approval is expected in the coming days.
It was also found that fifty Russian companies specializing in the mining, processing and sale of diamonds could be subject to sanctions.
Source: korrespondent
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