Russian Hackers Spied on U.S. Nuclear Scientists and Defense Companies — CNN
Over the past year, a group of Russian hackers has been conducting a large-scale cyberespionage campaign against American nuclear scientists, defense contractors, and government agencies.
According to Proofpoint, the attackers targeted email servers used by U.S. nuclear facilities and defense contractors. Experts believe that Russia was attempting to gain access to information on nuclear fusion technology, military logistics, and decision-making processes.
A joint alert from U.S. intelligence agencies and their allies notes that Russian hackers initially tested their methods on Ukrainian organizations and later applied them against NATO countries. The attacks used an exploit that allowed access to email correspondence without the need to open attachments or click on links.
Law enforcement agencies are already identifying those involved in the campaign. One of the suspected members of the group was arrested in Thailand and extradited to the U.S., where he stood trial.
Source: CNN.
As a reminder, the Russian hacking group Fancy Bear, which is linked to Russian military intelligence, hacked more than 280 email accounts belonging to government and military institutions in NATO countries and the Balkans.
Prior to this, hackers gained access to data from the booking website Booking.com, the company reported. The attackers were able to obtain information about customer reservations, and some users received emails on Sunday notifying them of a possible data breach.
