| Bladewire |
02-04-2017 02:32 PM |
New Russian Cyber Attack on Norways Political Parties and Armed Forces
On Thursday the U.S. Treasury Department eased restrictions to allow some cyber-security sales to the Russian Federal Security Service, the very same agency that was accused by American intelligence of meddling in the U.S. electoral process.
Norwegian security officials have revealed a cyberattack by suspected Russian intelligence operatives that is strikingly similar to what occurred during the U.S. presidential election.
Hackers attempted to breach communications among members of Norway?s Labour Party much the same way American intelligence agencies have determined that Russians targeted emails from within the Democratic National Committee during the U.S. campaign, reports Norway?s TV2. Norwegian officials believe the same hackers were involved in both attacks. The cyberattack was linked to a group identified as ?APT 29,? also known as ?Cozy Bear,? the same Russian crew tied to the American infiltration, The Associated Press reported.
The hackers also attempted to breach communications within the Norwegian army, its intelligence service, the foreign ministry, a school and a radiation protection agency. No classified information appears to have been accessed, according to a spokesman for the Norway Police Security Service (PST), the nation?s intelligence agency, The Guardian reported.
?Nine different email accounts were targeted in an attempt at what is called ?spear phishing,? in other words, malicious emails,? PST official Arne Christian Haugstoyl told TV2.
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg called the operations ?attacks on the democratic control systems of our country.?
On Thursday, the Russian Embassy in Oslo accused the Norwegian intelligence service of being ?anti-Russian.?
As Trump Eases Russian Sanctions, Norway Reveals A Kremlin Cyberattack | The Huffington Post |
