Microsoft conducted a study that found Russia has been using extensive cyberattack operations to support its military strikes on Ukraine since the war started on Feb. 24, a situation that has resulted in fears that the latter's power grid and cellphone system could be cut off.
While none of these things happened, the report says that Russia's A-team of hackers conducted hundreds of subtle cyberattacks. The operations were timed to coincide with incoming missile or ground attacks. It suggested that the Russians were less skillful than defending Ukrainians.
Russian Cyberattacks
Tom Burt, who oversees Microsoft's investigations into the biggest and most complex cyberattacks that are visible through its global networks, said that Moscow brought destructive and espionage efforts. He noted that while Russia had "some success" they were mostly met with a robust defense from Ukraine that blocked some of the online attacks.
The report also adds considerable subtlety to an understanding of the early days of the Russia-Ukraine war. At the time, shelling and troop movements were obvious and cyber operations were much less visible, as per the New York Times.
The technology company said that at least six different Kremlin-linked hacking groups conducted roughly 240 cyberattacks against Ukrainian targets throughout the invasion. Burt said, "Russia's use of cyberattacks appears to be strongly correlated and sometimes directly timed with its kinetic military operations."
The recent report is the most comprehensive public record to date covering Russia's hacking efforts amid its war on Ukraine. The details it provides fill in some gaps in the understanding of Moscow's vaunted cyber capabilities and if they have been used during the invasion.
According to CNN, Burt, who is also the vice president of Microsoft, cited a cyberattack on a Ukrainian broadcast company that was conducted on Mar. 1. It was on the same day when a Russian missile struck a TV tower in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, and when malicious emails were sent to Ukrainians that falsely claimed their government was "abandoning" them as Russian forces besieged the city of Mariupol.
Credibility of Tech Companies
Microsoft's report found nearly 40 destructive attacks, 32% of which directly targeted Ukrainian government organizations and 40% were aimed at critical sectors. Burt noted that the cyberattacks have not only degraded the systems of institutions in Ukraine but have also sought to disrupt people's access to reliable information and critical life services.
The situation comes as Democrats in the United States are gearing up for an all-out war with some of the country's largest tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, and Google. The situation was caused by a controversial antitrust bill.
However, the battle could be a risky move because the three companies employ more than a million people and provide services widely used across the nation. Furthermore, millions of American residents as well as some members of Congress own shares of the companies in their stock portfolios.
Big Tech companies also spent $124 million on lobbying and campaign contributions in the 2020 election cycle. The non-profit consumer advocacy group Public Citizen said that it was at a time when Amazon's spending increased by 30%, The Hill reported.
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