Russian hackers launch global cyberattacks —US, UK officials allege

Russian hackers have allegedly hid their efforts to attack organisations in the UK and other countries around the world by pretending to be a rival Iranian hacking group.

A Russian hacking group dubbed “Turla”, which has been linked to Russia’s FSB agency, hacked into Iranian servers to mask attacks against more than 35 different countries over the last 18 months, British and American security officials have said.

The hacking campaign was revealed on Monday by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) along with the American National Security Agency.

READ ALSO: Facebook set to launch dedicated news tab

The Russian hacking group’s targets were not disclosed by the security services, but the NCSC said that the group has previously hacked into “government, military, technology, energy and commercial organisations.”

Most of the victims of the hacking campaign were in the Middle East, security officials said on Monday.

The security officials also added that hacked organisations included universities and scientific organisations.

Reports say disguising the origin of cyberattacks is a common tactic used by hacking groups to avoid political responses such as sanctions and to cause further confusion amongst their targets.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now