War in Ukraine: Pulse of Cyber Defense (May 15, 2022)

 

The State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine: War in Ukraine: Pulse of Cyber Defense – Weekly analytics, May 15, 2022

UKRAINIAN CYBERHUB

The largest since World War II, war on the European continent continues not only on the land and in the air, but also in cyberspace. The State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection of Ukraine is responsible for the standards of cybersecurity in the country and takes an active part in its defense. The lessons of this war are extremely important for enhancing the protection of democratic states attacked by aggressive countries like russia.

In this regard, the SSSCIP initiates making available a public analytical report on the state and means of cyber defense. The SSSCIP CyberHub will make public its data and conclusions that may be used by the global cyber community for their own defense.

Four lessons learned from the May 9 attacks and the global community response to russian cyber aggression

Highlights

• russian cyberattacks have apparently reached their maximum potential. It does not mean we can relax because the number of cyberattacks is not going to become any fewer
• World’s leading countries condemned russian cyberattacks on Ukraine, acknowledged russia as an aggressor country in cyberspace and promised Ukraine their support
• Russia’s propaganda machine and cyber criminals are linked to each other and try to mirror Ukrainian volunteer movement
• The targets of russian hackers remain the same, i.e. public authorities, telecom and critical infrastructure

Details:

1. russian hackers did not intensify their attacks for the period of the May holidays and anniversaries:  “russia is using all its capacities and cyberattack methods available to it. We know their potential. Due to our successful resistance, we have demonstrated the level of threat russian hackers pose to the whole world. It is high indeed, because at least their military hackers are dangerous and highly qualified. But it is measurable. Plus we already know how to resist it,” says the SSSCIP Head Yurii Shchyhol.
2. World’s leading countries condemned russian cyberattacks on Ukraine and acknowledged russia as an aggressor country in cyberspace: According to the official statement of 27 EU Member States and other international partners, i.e. the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, etc., cyberattacks targeting Ukraine, including its critical infrastructure, could spill over into other countries and cause systemic effects.
3. russia’s propaganda machine and cyber criminals are linked to each other and try to mirror Ukrainian volunteer movement
4. Cyber criminals’ activities are coordinated with military tasks