A group of nations known as Fives Eyes has put out yet another warning that Russia is soon to launch an unprecedented number of cyber attacks on the West. The latest alerts claim that some of these attacks will be directed at critical infrastructure in the UK.
The intelligence alliance consisting of the US, UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand warned that critical organizations such as the NHS, power stations and civil service could be at risk of Russian cyber attacks.
They stated that hackers within the Russian government are seeking to engage in malicious cyber activity in response to the economic sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
A number of cybercriminals who have pledged their support to the Russian government also pose a risk to security. These groups include Killnet, a cybercrime group which released a video pledging their support to Russia and also claimed to be responsible for the DDoS (Denial of Service) attack against a U.S. airport in March 2022.
What Can be Done to Mitigate the Risks of Cyber Attacks
Businesses and organizations must increase their cybersecurity defenses, and Five Eyes suggested a number of immediate actions that organizations can take to mitigate potential cyber threats.
These actions include urgently updating their software, enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA), monitoring risky services such as remote desktop protocols and engaging in cyberawareness training.
Steve Barclay, the minister responsible for cybersecurity, told the Daily Telegraph that cyber attacks have physical or geographical boundaries and it has never been more important to plan and invest in cyber resilience.
Russia Denies Plans for Cyber Assault on the West
Last month, Russia alleged it had no plans to launch any cyber attacks on the United States. It was made known by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who told reporters that the Russian Federation is nothing like the West who engages in state-level banditry – hence assuring that there will be no cyber assaults.
Recent reports suggest that the West is not buying this idea and is beefing up cyber security.
