Russia has been hotly criticised for its brutal and aggressive display of power in Ukraine. The methods hackers use to fight against Russia can be seen through their government’s response to the cyber attacks and leaks. Russia militarily invaded Ukraine in 2014, claiming that they had “to protect Russian-speaking citizens living in the Crimea region of Ukraine.” The countries by which hackers have successfully targeted Russia can be found through each government’s response to cyber attacks and leaks. Ukraine has been the most successful country when it comes to resisting aggression. They successfully hacked Russian military and government computer systems, putting the hackers on U.S. and European governments’ lists of cyber warriors working against Russian businesses and organisations.
The Ukraine invasion has provided a gold rush for hackers. Since the conflict began, there’s been a significant increase in cyber attacks in the region, particularly on the military, government, and financial hubs. While the hacks have been effective, many have been costly for the intruders, who were the victims of hacks. The Ukraine incident has also enabled hackers to come together and share their techniques and tools – and so, cyber attacks have become more decentralised, with more people taking part. In this article, you’ll learn about some of the tactics and techniques that have become more commonly used since the Ukraine invasion and how you can protect yourself from them.
Malware
One of the most common methods used to target Russia is through the use of malware. It is a type of software designed to damage or disable computers. In 2016, a group of hackers known as “Fancy Bear” used malware to hack into the Democratic National Committee’s server to interfere with the U.S. presidential election. It can be used to delete files, steal information, or even take control of a computer. Hackers often use malware to target Russian businesses and government agencies.
To protect your website from malware, you should install a reliable security solution to detect and remove malware. You should also keep your software and operating system up to date to reduce the risk of being infected by malware.
Hacking
Another common method used to target Russia is hacking. This involves gaining unauthorised access to a computer or network to steal data or cause damage. Hackers often target Russian websites and deface them with pro-Ukraine or anti-Russian messages. In some cases, hackers have also targeted Russian businesses and government agencies to disrupt their operations.
To protect your website from hacking, you should implement strong security measures like two-factor authentication and password encryption. You should also keep your software and operating system up to date to reduce the risk of being hacked.
IP Spoofing
IP spoofing is used to disguise a computer’s IP address. This can be done for malicious purposes, such as launching a denial-of-service attack or stealing data. Hackers often use IP spoofing to target Russian websites and businesses.
To protect your website from being the victim of IP spoofing, you should implement security measures such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems. You should also keep your software and operating system up to date to reduce the risk of being hacked.
DDoS Attacks
DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks are another common method used by hackers to target a country. In a DDoS attack, a group of computers (known as a “botnet”) is used to flood a website or server with requests, overwhelming the system and causing it to crash. In 2015, a group of hackers known as “Cyber Berkut” launched a series of DDoS attacks against the Ukrainian government to disrupt the country’s infrastructure.
IP Address and Domain Scanning
IP address and domain scanning is another common method to target Russia. During this process, the hackers find information regarding the Internet Protocol addresses and domains used by a website or business. They can then use this information to send harmful links to these servers. If a visitor clicks on one of these links, malicious software is launched that can steal valuable data such as login credentials, customer information, or financial data.
To protect your website from IP address and domain scanning, you should install security measures such as two-factor authentication, so you can access the site even if your computer is compromised.
Network Exploitation
Network exploitation allows hackers to access computers and devices on a network to steal data or cause damage. It often involves phishing, in which users are tricked into clicking on a malicious link or file. Hackers often target Russian businesses and government organisations with network exploitation. In 2016, Fancy Bear targeted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) with network exploitation to release sensitive information.
To protect your website from network exploitation, you should implement security measures such as firewalls. You should also keep your software and operating system up to date to reduce the risk of being hacked.
