Ukrainian safety providers have arrested a hacker for allegedly focusing on authorities web sites and offering intelligence to Russia to hold out missile strikes on the town of Kharkiv.
Safety Service of Ukraine (SSU) revealed that its cyber unit has recognized the person, who it accused of following directions from Russia’s intelligence service, the FSB.
Hacker Spied on Ukrainian Army Websites
The hacker allegedly spied on and provided info to Russia on the situation of army infrastructure in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second greatest metropolis.
This included potential websites of Ukrainian air protection and artillery positions. The detainee despatched screenshots of digital maps with coordinates of such targets to the FSB by way of a messenger app, mentioned the SSU.
“To gather intelligence on the Protection Forces, the person walked within the space and covertly recorded potential places of Ukrainian defenders,” the SSU submit acknowledged.
Russia used this info to hold out two missile assaults on the town’s civilian infrastructure, together with a neighborhood hospital, the unit added.
Moreover, the SSU mentioned the hacker was following FSB directions to organize a collection of DDoS assaults on Ukrainian authorities web sites.
Russia Recruiting Ukrainian Spies
The suspect is an IT specialist and resident of Kharkiv. In response to the investigation, he was recruited by the FSB by means of a specialised Telegram channel.
The SSU mentioned it seized three cell phones, a laptop computer and flash drives, which have been used to conduct sabotage operations towards Ukraine.
The person has now been served with “a discover of suspicion” below laws relating the unauthorized dissemination of data on provide, motion of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine.
The suspect is in custody, and will withstand 12 years in jail, the SSU acknowledged.
On January 3, 2024, the SSU reported that Russian intelligence hacked on-line surveillance cameras to spy on air protection actions and significant infrastructure in Kyiv forward of missile strikes.
The service warned Ukrainian residents that the publication of movies of the operation of protection forces is a felony offence punishable by as much as 12 years imprisonment.
US Sentences Russian Cybercriminal
Within the US, a Russian hacker was just lately sentenced to 5 years and 4 months in jail for his or her function in creating and deploying the Trickbot malware.
Russian nationwide, Vladimir Dunaev, 40, pleaded responsible to the costs in December 2023.
Trickbot was modular malware designed to steal credentials, set up backdoors and far more, enjoying a significant function in offering preliminary entry for ransomware teams akin to Ryuk and Conti.
It was utilized in assaults on hospitals, faculties and companies all through the US, leading to tens of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in losses.
Commenting on the sentence, Appearing Assistant Legal professional Common of the Division of Justice (DoJ) Nicole M. Argentieri, mentioned: “This sentencing demonstrates the division’s potential to position cybercriminals behind bars, regardless of the place they’re situated.
“In cooperation with our companions all over the world, we’ll proceed to carry cybercriminals to justice.”
In September 2023, the US and the UK collectively sanctioned 11 Russian’s accused of being linked with Trickbot malware.
