News on Cyberdiplomacy - Cyber Incidents, Cyber Policy & Cyber Affairs from Around the World
14th May 2024
CISA Releasing International Strategy in Tandem with State Dept.
The State Department has released its International Cyberspace and Digital Strategy, emphasizing the role of technology in diplomacy and the need to build international coalitions to uphold an “open, inclusive, secure, and resilient” internet. The strategy document focuses on three hallmarks of the Biden administration’s first term- an escalating conflict with adversaries such as Russia and China, an emphasis on “minilateralism” by building international coalitions and partnerships among smaller, targeted groupings, and a determination to maintain the United States’ global technological primacy. The State Department has also invested in various countries to help shore up their semiconductor manufacturing capabilities and called out a recent investment in an undersea cable partnership.
Why young Russian women want to marry Chinese men
President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine changed Russia's relationship with many nations,
including China. Western sanctions drove China to emerge as one of Russia's main oil buyers. Also,
AI has introduced a new power dynamic in this evolving relationship. Short videos have emerged
online that showcase young Russian women expressing their fascination with Chinese culture and
the desire to marry Chinese men, but these videos are actually deepfakes. They raise concerns about
the potential misuse of technology and the manipulation of public perceptions.
NATO Draws a Cyber Red Line in Tensions With Russia
NATO is warning Russia not to interfere with Western liberal democracies by hacking and leaking,
which is the modus operandi of APT28. APT28 is run by the Russian Military Intelligence (GRU
Unit), and is not alone in this type of activity. The UK also mentions Star Blizzard, run by the FSB,
Russia’s Federal Security Service, and APT29, run by the SVR, Russia’s external intelligence
service. The purpose of these agencies is to shape liberal democracy elections to Russia’s benefit.
Dismissing election interference as separate from destructive cyberattacks would be wrong, as
weakening liberal democracies and the NATO alliance are conjoined in the hybrid war that Russia
is conducting against Ukraine in the short term and the West in the long term.
Australia Faces Unprecedented Cyber Threats Amid Support for Ukraine
Australian companies were recently assaulted while the country reaffirmed its support for Ukraine.
The Albanese Government reinforced its commitment to aid Ukraine with a $100 million package.
$50 million is designated for military assistance, prioritizing Australian defense industry support for
uncrewed aerial systems and essential equipment. Another $50 million is allocated for short-range
air defense systems, with air-to-ground precision munitions also provided.
A (Strange) Interview With the Russian-Military-Linked Hackers Targeting US Water Utilities
A Russian hacker group caused a significant water leak at a US utility, but the Cyber Army of
Russia overestimates its threat against Ukraine's allies. In some of their hacking operations, they
were ineffective, randomly changing values in a utility's control system software with no actual
disruptive effect. They post to their Telegram channel in Russian, questionable since they claim to
be trying to influence Western politics in their favor. The Cyber Army of Russia's actions may not
be as strategic as claimed, says Olga Belogolova, a researcher at Johns Hopkins. It may function
more as a cheerleading campaign for Russians than a real influence operation targeting the West.
The group's exposure by Mandiant and several government agencies suggests it's now on
Americans' radar, too. However, we shouldn't overblow the threat it represents and succumb to its
hit-and-miss attempts at instilling fear through disruptive hacking, says Belogolova.
EU Cybersecurity Center to Receive Communication System From Indra
Spain's Indra will integrate a secure communication system into the European Commission’s cyber
risk management center. The system will use COMSec technology to provide encrypted voice,
video, and instant messaging services, protecting data across different networks. Indra's COMSec
will ensure secure information exchange within the center and stored data. The protocol complies
with European Network and Information Systems Security standards and is supervised by the
Spanish National Cryptologic Center.
Cyber Crime Unit Warns Against Misuse of Social Media
The Cyber Crime Police Station in Ribandar is investigating the spread of harmful content on social
media platforms. This follows complaints from Amit Pinto and Brucelee Quadros, both residents of
Margao. They claim that unknown persons have shared modified photos and untrue messages
accusing them of using money to influence political voting. Pinto and Quadros believe that these
actions have damaged their reputation and caused conflict among their community. In response, the
Cyber Crime unit has warned against the misuse of social media platforms.
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