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The Independent
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Dutch intelligence agencies say Russian hackers stole police data in cyberattack
A previously unknown Russian hacker group with suspected ties to the Kremlin was responsible for a cyberattack last year on the Dutch police and has also targeted other Western nations that deliver military support to Ukraine, intelligence agencies announced Tuesday. The agencies said in a report that the group, which they called Laundry Bear, is actively trying to steal sensitive data from European Union and NATO countries and is 'extremely likely Russian state supported.' 'Laundry Bear is after information about the purchase and production of military equipment by Western governments and Western deliveries of weapons to Ukraine,' Vice Adm. Peter Reesink, director of the military intelligence agency MIVD, said in a statement. There was no immediate comment from Moscow on the report. The Netherlands has been a strong supporter of Ukraine's war effort since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 and has given military equipment, including F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv. The Russian hackers broke into a police account and accessed work-related contact details of all Dutch police officers in September last year, in a cyberattack that sent shockwaves through the force. The Dutch intelligence agencies published a detailed analysis of methods used by the hacker group to break into computer networks and cloud services. Erik Akerboom, chief of the domestic intelligence agency AIVD, said that outlining the group's work means that 'not only governments, but also manufacturers, suppliers and other targets can arm themselves against this form of espionage. This limits Laundry Bear's chances of success and digital networks can be better protected.' The attack discovered in the Netherlands is one of a growing number around the world. Last week, the U.S. National Security Agency said that hackers working for Russian military intelligence targeted Western technology and logistics companies involved in shipping assistance to Ukraine. And last month, the French government accused a hacking group linked to Russian military intelligence of cyberattacks over three years, targeting the Paris Olympics, French government agencies and companies.
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Dutch intelligence agencies say Russian hackers stole police data in cyberattack
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A previously unknown Russian hacker group with suspected ties to the Kremlin was responsible for a cyberattack last year on the Dutch police and has also targeted other Western nations that deliver military support to Ukraine, intelligence agencies announced Tuesday. The agencies said in a report that the group, which they called Laundry Bear, is actively trying to steal sensitive data from European Union and NATO countries and is 'extremely likely Russian state supported.' 'Laundry Bear is after information about the purchase and production of military equipment by Western governments and Western deliveries of weapons to Ukraine,' Vice Adm. Peter Reesink, director of the military intelligence agency MIVD, said in a statement. There was no immediate comment from Moscow on the report. The Netherlands has been a strong supporter of Ukraine's war effort since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 and has given military equipment, including F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv. The Russian hackers broke into a police account and accessed work-related contact details of all Dutch police officers in September last year, in a cyberattack that sent shockwaves through the force. The Dutch intelligence agencies published a detailed analysis of methods used by the hacker group to break into computer networks and cloud services. Erik Akerboom, chief of the domestic intelligence agency AIVD, said that outlining the group's work means that 'not only governments, but also manufacturers, suppliers and other targets can arm themselves against this form of espionage. This limits Laundry Bear's chances of success and digital networks can be better protected.' The attack discovered in the Netherlands is one of a growing number around the world. Last week, the U.S. National Security Agency said that hackers working for Russian military intelligence targeted Western technology and logistics companies involved in shipping assistance to Ukraine. And last month, the French government accused a hacking group linked to Russian military intelligence of cyberattacks over three years, targeting the Paris Olympics, French government agencies and companies.
Al-Ahram Weekly
14-05-2025
- Al-Ahram Weekly
'Increased threat': Dutch army raises alert level - International
The Dutch military on Wednesday raised its alertness level due to an "increased threat" and the possibility of sabotage near the country's borders. The Netherlands has been at alert level "Alpha" since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but Wednesday's increase took it to "Alpha Plus", meaning "increased threats" in Europe. Alpha Plus is level two on a six-level rating system that goes up to level D meaning "a targeted attack is imminent or has taken place." The raised threat level means military personnel should step up surveillance of suspicious people and vehicles, as well as drones, said the defence ministry. The threat analysis from the MIVD spy agency is that "other countries are increasingly prepared to engage in sabotage activities, also near the Dutch border," the ministry said. "The increase is also related to increased threats in Europe. There is currently no concrete threat against a military site," the statement added. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Putin 'preparing for war with NATO' within a year of ending Ukraine conflict
Russia used its annual Victory Day parade in Moscow's Red Square to show off his latest hi-tech weapons and it is claimed that his next target after Ukraine will be a war with NATO Vladimir Putin is preparing for war with NATO within a year of ending his conflict in Ukraine, a senior Western military intelligence chief has warned. The World War Three threat was highlighted as the Kremlin dictator staged one of the largest military parades in modern Russian history with tanks and nuclear missile carriers thundering across Moscow's Red Square in a show of strength. Putin used the annual Victory Day event - today marking the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Hitler - to showcase his latest hi-tech weapons including killer drones used against Ukraine. Dutch military intelligence chief [MIVD] Vice-Admiral Peter Reesink warned starkly: ' Russia is producing much more artillery, also with help from other countries, than they need for the war with Ukraine.' Putin is not only replenishing depleted stockpiles but moving new artillery units toward NATO borders, including the Baltic countries and Finland, he told Politico. 'That's an indication for us that they are building up capability.' Putin's blatant show of strength in Moscow comes as production levels show he could be ready for a major new conflict within a year if the Kremlin maintains its political appetite for combat, he said. Some Russian experts fear Putin now depends on a war economy and cannot halt his military dependency. 'The Netherlands, like the rest of NATO countries, is in a phase of enhanced readiness programme to make sure that we're ready if that occurs,' warned the intelligence chief. The parade came as Putin is suspected of playing God to order the spiking of clouds with a chemical cocktail - a Soviet technology used to change the weather for major events and stop any rain on his parade. Antonov-12 and Antonov-26 aircraft are deployed to 'spike' clouds with a chemical cocktail of silver iodide, liquid nitrogen and dry ice, which leads to rain falling outside Moscow but not over Red Square. 'Calculations are being made to create a window of good weather that will come to Red Square during the air parade,' said Yuri Varakin, head of the Roshydromet Situation Centre, ahead of the parade. I hope everything will work out.' In a dinner on the eve of the parade, Putin's menu for President Xi Jinping and other foreign leaders - ostentatiously serving wine from invaded Ukraine, Blanc de Neige, Crimea, 2022. As Putin held his parade, Donald Trump increased pressure on the Russians to agree to a peace deal amid suspicions the Kremlin intends to return to full-scale war at the end of its unilateral ceasefire on Saturday night. The US president demanded a 30-day unconditional ceasefire which Ukraine - but not Russia - has already agreed to. 'If the ceasefire is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions,' said Trump. 'Thousands of young soldiers are dying on a weekly basis, and everybody should want it to STOP.' Vice-president J D Vance attacked Putin for making unrealistic demands. 'We knew that Russia would ask for too much because the Russian perception of war is that they are winning,' he said. 'But Russia cannot expect to be given back territory that they have not even conquered yet. And that is one of the things that they included in the original peace plan,' he told Fox News. Volodymyr Zelensky said he held a 'good conversation' with Trump. 'President Trump asked about the situation on the battlefield, and I briefly briefed him,' he said. 'I also said that Ukraine is ready for a 30-day ceasefire, starting today. 'We expect Russia to agree to this proposal. I also confirmed that Ukraine is ready for negotiations in any format. But for this, Russia must show the seriousness of its intentions to end the war, starting with a complete and unconditional ceasefire. 'President Trump confirmed that he wants to end this war, is ready to help, and supports the need for a ceasefire. We agreed on further contacts.' A statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry after Xi's talks with Putin suggested Russia was ready for peace talks without preconditions. But it contained the caveat - sympathetic to Moscow - that 'the legitimate security interests of all countries must be taken seriously and the root causes of the crisis must be addressed'. As the Moscow parade was underway, EU foreign ministers gathered in Ukraine to agree to a special war crimes tribunal intended to snare Putin and almost two dozen other Russian leaders. 'There will be no impunity. There will be accountability for the crimes committed,' said Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat. Criticising leaders on the podium with Putin in Moscow, she said: 'I want to stress that all those who truly support peace cannot stand side-by-side with Putin, who has started this full-scale war of aggression in Ukraine…. 'Who truly supports peace should be in Ukraine rather than in Moscow.' The EU also announced a major new aid package for Ukraine. Putin crony Dmitry Medvedev - former Russian president - slammed the West for siding with Ukraine, saying: 'We are glad to see friends who are joining us in celebrating the 80th anniversary of the crushing defeat of Nazi Germany. This is something the European lapdogs helping today's typhus-ridden neo-Nazi lice should remember.'
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First Post
29-04-2025
- Politics
- First Post
France says Russia carried out cyberattacks, names military intelligence unit GRU for first time
GRU 'has been deploying a cyber-offensive modus operandi called APT28 against France for several years. It has targeted around ten French entities since 2021,' Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a message on social media platform X read more France has accused Russia's GRU of carrying out cyberattacks on the country in the past decade. Image Credit: Pexels France on Tuesday (April 29) accused Russian military intelligence of being behind cyberattacks against the nation over the last decade, including on President Emmanuel Macron's 2017 campaign and a TV network in 2015, the foreign ministry said. Russian military intelligence (GRU) 'has been deploying a cyber-offensive modus operandi called APT28 against France for several years. It has targeted around ten French entities since 2021,' Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said in a message on social media platform X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'In cyberspace, France observes, blocks and fights its adversaries,' he added. Le service de renseignement militaire russe (GRU) déploie depuis plusieurs années contre la France un mode opératoire cyber-offensif appelé APT28. Il a ciblé une dizaine d'entités françaises depuis 2021. Dans le cyberespace, la France observe, bloque et combat ses adversaires. — Jean-Noël Barrot (@jnbarrot) April 29, 2025 The accusations, labelled at GRU unit APT28, which officials said was located at Rostov-on-Don, are not the first by Western powers, but it is the first time Paris - referring to its own intelligence gathering - has laid the blame at the Russian state. Accusations of cyberwarfare on Russia APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, has been linked to dozens of global cyberattacks including the 2016 US election, where it was accused of aiding Donald Trump by leaking Democratic Party emails and those of the campaign of Hillary Clinton. A week ago, Netherlands' Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) had warned that Russia has ramped up hybrid attacks aimed at undermining Dutch society and its European allies. The agency disclosed that a Russian cyberattack attempted to gain control over an unspecified Dutch public service. 'It was thwarted, but it was the first time,' MIVD Director Peter Reesink had said. Last month, a report by the New York Times had suggested that over the course of the past two years, Russia had stepped up cyberattacks in Europe and on the United States in a bid to pressure them to curb their support for Ukraine. According to the report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, these cyberattacks had targeted undersea cables, warehouses and railways. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
