Cybersecurity
Digital Sleuths Track Clues in Hacks on Ukrainian Government, Banks
- Researchers detected hacks targeting government, banks
- A new malware strain is capable of wiping data from devices
A nearly empty Independence Square in Kyiv, on Feb. 24.
Photographer: Chris McGrath/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
As missiles landed in Ukraine on Thursday morning, the country’s cybersecurity defenders were already hard at work. Prior to the Russian military invasion, hackers had launched a series of attacks aimed at disrupting Ukrainian government websites as well as banking, defense, and aviation services.
Ukraine’s State Service of Special Communication and Information Protection said it had observed on Wednesday phishing attacks on public authorities and critical infrastructure, as well as attempts to penetrate private sector networks. It said it had “unambiguously” identified Russian special services as being behind some of the efforts.