Microsoft Reports on Russia, China, Iran Cyberespionage, Forgets US and Israel
On Tuesday, Microsoft released a report revealing that government hackers from Russia, China, and Iran engaged in cyber espionage campaigns, launching government-backed cyberattacks against the US through criminal networks.
Microsoft detailed instances of cyber security collaboration from the governments, targeting US operations.
In parallel, an Iranian hacking group exploited an Israeli dating service to steal users’ data and carry out operations linked to violence in Occupied Palestine and Lebanon.
The report indicates that these government backed hackers don’t have to rely on expensive means to enhance cyber warfare capabilities because hackers are always available. The ‘protection’ that the nation state cyberattacks receive in return means that there is never a dull moment to commit crimes.
While there is no concrete evidence that superpowers such as Russia, China’s Chinese government hackers, and Iran are collaborating at these dimensions, it is well established that they geopolitical allies. In contrast, there is clear evidence that the US and Israel work closely to carry out cyber operations by hackers working for government.
The recent Microsoft report refrains from sharing any data on the US and Israel’s cyber espionage campaigns – a testament on how both agents can engage in various offensive cyberespionage operations, without full – if any – accountability.
2024, Century’s Cyber Warfare Year
The same virtual wars in the US government hackers and Israel against their enemies, Russia, China, and Iran, reflect a dark divide in the shift in global power. The practice is also modern, employed by hackers hired by government of countries to infiltrate the systems and governments of their enemies in order to create instability and a shift without actually using any arms.
While tensions mount between the two blocs, US from North and South Korea to Israel against Russia, China, and Iran, cyber operations are becoming crucial tools both for offense and defense.
Russian governemnt hackers invaded Ukrainian military systems in 2022, while Iranian-linked groups have infiltrated Israeli databases, driven by both financial and political motives, as well as Chinese hackers breached US government agencies.
A recent example that took place on October 12, 2024, was the Israeli use of cyberattacks within its growing conflict with Iran.
These cyberattacks struck at the foundation of the Iranian infrastructure, including government branches and nuclear facilities. Such attacks are widely perceived as part of Israel’s response to Iran’s recent missile threats and attacks from Iran on April 13th and October 1st, becoming one of the most important growing roles in the warfare with cyber weapons.
Today, the battleground has shifted to the digital warfare dimension, as these nations fight to gain control using their cyber capabilities to shape not just today’s but also tomorrow’s wars with the least possible damage and cost.
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