Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

The FBI managed to prevent the actions of Russian hackers

The FBI managed to prevent the actions of Russian hackers

The FBI succeeded in thwarting Russian hackers, gained control of thousands of devices that had previously been seized by cybercriminals believed to be under the direction of Russian military intelligence.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation gained control of thousands of Internet routers and hardware firewalls previously hacked by Russian military hackers using the same tools used by Moscow-based cybercriminals to communicate with devices, the U.S. Justice Department said Wednesday.

A cutscene statement released today describes the unusual operation as a pre-emptive measure to prevent Russian hackers from attempting to assemble compromised devices into a “botnet,” a network of compromised computers that can be used by hackers to attack other servers with streams of Internet traffic.

“Fortunately, we were able to stop this botnet from forming before it was used,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said.

The Russian embassy in Washington has not yet responded to a request for comment from the US Department of Justice.

The botnet assembled by hackers was controlled using the Cyclops Blink virus program, which US and British cyber defense agencies attributed in late February to the “Sandworm” – presumably , one of the hacker groups controlled by Russian military intelligence. This group has been repeatedly accused of committing other cyberattacks.

Cyclops Blink was designed to hack devices manufactured by computer companies WatchGuard Technologies Inc and ASUSTeK Computer Inc, according to private cybersecurity companies. The program allows Russian hackers to gain access to the systems they have hacked, giving them the ability to remotely remove or delete data, as well as use the devices to attack other networks.

Watchguard released a statement confirming its cooperation with the Ministry of Justice to prevent the creation of a botnet, but did not disclose the number of devices affected by hackers, noting that this number is “less than 1% of all WatchGuard devices.”

AsusTek, also known like Asus, has not yet responded to a request for comment.

FBI Director Chris Ray told reporters that his agency, with court permission, secretly accessed thousands of routers and hardware firewalls in order to remove the virus and change the configuration devices.

“We've removed the virus from devices used by thousands of mostly small businesses to support network security around the world,” Ray said. “We closed the door that the Russians used to infiltrate [other networks].”

A document released today notes that the US government has launched an awareness campaign to educate owners of WatchGuard devices about the steps they should take to prevent hacker attacks. It is also reported that so far less than half of the devices previously captured by hackers have been controlled.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
China Criticizes US for Vetoing UN Ceasefire Resolution in Gaza
Saudi Arabia ranks first in UN index for e-government services in MENA
Israel Records 20% Drop In GDP, War In Gaza Is The Reason
Saudi Arabia's FDI Inflows Grow with New International Standards
Venture Capitals Power Up Across MENA Region
PM Modi Announces Opening Of New CBSE Office In Dubai
January Funding for MENA Startups Totals $86.5 Million
Saudi Arabia accelerates digital economy growth through Nvidia partnership
Israel unveils tunnels underneath Gaza City headquarters of UN agency for Palestinian refugees
Israel deploys new military AI in Gaza war
Egypt threatens to suspend key peace treaty if Israel pushes into Gaza border town, officials say
Saudi Arabia Warns Of A "Humanitarian Catastrophe" If Israel Moves On Rafah
US University To Shut Qatar Campus Due To "Heightened Mideast Instability"
Facebook and Instagram Ban Iran's Supreme Leader
Defense Technology Showcase Held in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports rise 2.5% to $6bn in November 2023: GASTAT
Rolls-Royce Executive Encourages Saudi Women to Tap into Their Inner 'Superhero' for Success in Defense Industry
Saudi Arabia launches National Academy of Vehicles and Cars
Saudi Tourism Minister Reveals Plan for 250,000 New Hotel Rooms by 2030
SAR to more than double eastern network passenger capacity with new trains deal
Saudi Arabia Enhances National Defense with New Partnerships
Saudi Aramco Maintains Arab Light Crude Pricing to Asia for March
NEOM Establishes New York Office to Support Investors
Saudi Wealth Fund Draws in Over $25 Billion Worth of Investments in Three Years, Al-Rumayyan Reveals
The Saudi Kingdom's Ultimatum to Israel: A Win-Win Peace with Saudi Arabia and the Arab World, or a Lose-Lose Continued Occupation and Endless Conflict
Biden condemns anti-Arab hate after WSJ opinion piece calls Dearborn ‘jihad capital’
Turkey Releases Seven Hostages Captured by Pro-Gaza Gunman
Arab Parliament Commends Women's Contributions to Societal Development
British and Hungarian Foreign Ministers visited Lebanese leaders to stress the importance of enacting UN Resolution 1701
Yemen's Houthis Say They Targeted British Merchant Vessel In Red Sea
Donald Trump Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize for 'Historic' Middle East Policy
US lawmakers approve F-16 jet sale to Turkey following NATO expansion support
Saudi Arabia Climbs 25 Places in World Bank's National Statistics Indicator
Tourism Growth in Saudi Arabia Fuels Advancements in the Hospitality Industry," Says Rotana Official
Houthi Rebels Request Departure of UN Staff from Yemen, Including US and UK Personnel, within a Month
Modi Inaugurates Hindu Temple on Site of Demolished Mosque in India
Over 25,000 Deaths in Gaza Amid Israeli Offensive
Escalating Clashes in Gaza as Israel Distributes Leaflets to Assist in Locating Hostages
Turkey's First Astronaut Set to Launch for International Space Station Today
Head of Palestinian Investment Fund Warns More People May Die of Hunger Than War in Gaza
Palestinian Envoy Criticizes UK for Alleged 'Double Standards' in Policies Toward Israel
Morocco to Lead UN Human Rights Council in 2024
Is artificial intelligence the solution to cyber security threats?
Egypt has been identified as the leading military force among Arab nations and ranks 15th globally
The AI Revolution in the Workforce: CEOs at Davos Predict Major Job Cuts in 2024
Iranian Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Receives Additional Prison Sentence
"Gazans Urge Israeli Forces to Target Hamas in Leaked Audio"
Biden States US and UK Airstrikes on Houthis Were a 'Defensive Action
Large Pro-Palestine Rally in London as Gaza Conflict Hits Day 100
South Africa Urges World Court to Halt Israeli Actions in Gaza
×