UK Warns Russian Hackers Targeting Cloud-Based Systems

Defense News , Russia :-  The UK National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) and a group called the Five Eyes Alliance recently shared some important information about Russian hackers and how they're attacking companies that use cloud-based systems.

These hackers, who are connected to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), have been changing their tactics. They're doing this to keep up with the fact that more and more people are using virtual or cloud-based networks instead of physical ones.

Back in 2020, these SVR-backed hackers caused trouble by messing with the systems of a company that makes software for monitoring IT, as well as organizations working on COVID-19 vaccines.

Now, the NCSC, along with its partners from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the US, have identified a cyber group called APT29 that's linked to these attacks.

They found out that sectors like schools, hospitals, and research organizations have been switching from regular computer systems to cloud-based ones to stay safe from attacks. So, to keep doing their dirty work, the hackers changed their tactics.

Over the past year, they've been stealing special codes and user accounts to get into these cloud systems. Once they're in, they add their own devices to the system, change passwords, and try to guess passwords that are easy to figure out because they're not strong enough. And sadly, these tactics often work because people don't have enough security measures in place.

Once they're inside, they can do even more damage by using really advanced techniques to sneak deeper into the system.

The NCSC wants to make sure everyone knows about these threats. They've seen these hackers move on from attacking just schools and hospitals to other important places like police departments, airports, and even government offices.

Paul Chichester, who works with the NCSC, says they're determined to stop these cyberattacks. He wants organizations to read the information they've shared about these threats and follow their advice to protect their systems better.

So, if you're using cloud-based systems for your work or at home, it's really important to make sure your passwords are strong and that you're taking other steps to keep your information safe. And if you think something suspicious is happening with your system, don't wait—report it right away.