Russia Ready to Repay The West With Cyber Attacks For Its Sanctions
Russia seems to be stepping up its campaign against the west. Following several hoax phone calls that targeted Priti Patel and Ben Wallace, the Russians are expected to launch a full-scale cyber attack on western governments and companies.
Although the Defense Secretary has ordered an inquiry into the hoax call, experts still warn that it was just a buildup to the full-fledged assault.
As per one report, a cyber security expert stressed the need to be on a “hightened state of preparedness” for the “high probability” of cyber attacks, as economic sanctions on Russia begin to bite.
Cylera Chief Security Strategist warned that critical national infrastructure and the banking sector could be the main targets of any attack ordered by Vladimir Putin. He said there’s a fairly high probability, based upon the types of hybrid warfare that Putin and the Kremlin have executed in the past, that cyber attacks will be launched this time round.
Russia Previous Expenditure
In Chechnya in the 90s, Russia launched its cyber weapons against opposing forces. It did the same to Georgia and South Ossetia. We’ve seen it in other parts of the world, where Russia has wanted to extend its influence and to coerce and to bully its neighbors or adversaries.
In 2021, we saw Russian hackers disrupt petrol supplies in America, healthcare in Ireland, schools in England, food retail in Sweden, the list goes on. This time will be no different as the sanctions by the West are biting harder.
After being kicked out of Swift’s international payments system, the attackers are sure to go after financial institutions in retaliation to the ban. Responding to what can be done to in preparedness for these assaults, Richard Stayning said vital systems must be patched.
Additionally, he called on executives at some of the West’s leading banks and financial institutions to place their cyber security teams on high alert.
