Georgian Cyber Attacks Linked to Russian Gang

News
By Jane McEntegart
published

Last year some serious DDoS attacks brought down multiple Georgian websites. This week we learn that said attacks are linked to Russian gangs.

PC World reports that an independent research institute which assesses the impact of cyber attacks has submitted to the U.S. Government a 100-page analysis of the attacks on several Georgian government and media websites. While this information is not being made available to the general public (for now it's just the government and cybersecurity professionals), the U.S. Cyber Consequences Unit released a nine-page summary early yesterday.

"Many of the cyber attacks were so close in time to the corresponding military operations that there had to be close cooperation between people in the Russian military and the civilian cyber attackers," PC World quotes the report as saying. "Many of the actions the attackers carried out, such as registering new domain names and putting up new Web sites, were accomplished so quickly that all of the steps had to be prepared earlier."

While the report does concede that the timing of the attacks and the timing of the Russia-Georgia war are not likely to be a coincidence, the institute is said to be confident that that the Russian government did not carry out the attacks. However, the report does suggest that although the Russian government did not carry out the attacks itself, the military may have been cooperating closely with the cyber attackers.

"Many of the cyber attacks were so close in time to the corresponding military operations that there had to be close cooperation between people in the Russian military and the civilian cyber attackers," the report said.

Read the full story on PC World.

Jane McEntegart
17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • fail
    Reply
  • chaohsiangchen
    Cyber attack is more effective against enemy civilian institutions, such as banks, news outlets, trading facilities etc, to cripple or disrupt enemy society. In essence, this is no more different than carpet bombardment on enemy cities, which both are aiming at destroying normal social function of enemy states.

    However, just like how carpet bombardment is so ineffective against hardened government and military targets, cyber attack against government and military networks are usually futile, for simple reason that they have different networks well protected or even physically separated from the Internet.
    Reply
  • jerther
    chaohsiangchencyber attack against government and military networks are usually futile, for simple reason that they have different networks well protected or even physically separated from the Internet.uh, yeah, like that American A-Bomb China has been able to hack over the internet.

    I remember the comment: "just unplug the darn thing!"
    Reply
  • chaohsiangchen
    jertheruh, yeah, like that American A-Bomb China has been able to hack over the internet.I remember the comment: "just unplug the darn thing!"
    Commies were able to dump W88 warhead blue print in the front door of American Institute in Taiwan in 1996, before at the dawn of the Internet, and certainly before organized Chinese government hacking effort. It has triggered Lee Wen Ho case which ended with taxpayers losing 1 million dollars to Mr. Lee. We still don't know how commies got W88 blue print.

    In intelligence circle, it is well known for decades that HUMINT is more effective than SIGINT. Given how Lee's and Valerie Plame's names were leaked to the media, I don't doubt that enemies of the US can acquire information they need through more traditional means.
    Reply
  • Major7up
    Is this really any surprise to anyone, I mean really?
    Reply
  • yekoor
    If you can find non-existing weapons of mass destruction, how difficult would it be to find relationship between Russia's counterattack and DDOS attacks especially considering that Saakashvilli is a US puppet?

    At least no KGB/FSB involved this time, that's some progress, bravo.

    Let us all see the whole analysis of the "independent" research institute.
    Reply
  • yekoor
    "Is this really any surprise to anyone, I mean really?"

    No, considering that you get fed with propaganda on the daily basis (evil Russia, evil North Korea, evil China, evil Iran, evil Iraq, evil Muslims etc) who would be surprised by your reactions. I mean really?
    Reply
  • Hatecrime69
    so they are trying to lead you to think that this was done with some kind of government help..unleashing ddos attacks while they do military things..so they ddos....facebook? I don't know, this sounds more like rocky and bullwinkle-type russian job than russian mafia or something

    goverment worker: Oh no! I can't access facebook or twitter!!!
    boss: *smacks on back of head* your suppose to be doing work anyway dumb-ass
    Reply
  • Pei-chen
    chaohsiangchenCommies were able to dump W88 warhead blue print in the front door of American Institute in Taiwan in 1996, before at the dawn of the Internet, and certainly before organized Chinese government hacking effort. It has triggered Lee Wen Ho case which ended with taxpayers losing 1 million dollars to Mr. Lee. We still don't know how commies got W88 blue print....Sounds like a certain America's ally got their hand on W88 design and since they can't build a bomb, decided to use it to force congress’ hand in approving military sale to that certain country.
    Reply
  • dirkbliss
    Ad on Tom's; "Tweeter is hiring, earn $78/hr". Are Viagra ads just around the corner?
    Reply