Russia-backed Hackers Target Global Officials on Messaging Apps
Two Netherlands intelligence agencies, the AIVD and MIVD, confirmed that Russian state hackers are launching a global cyber campaign to infiltrate Signal and WhatsApp accounts used by officials, military personnel, journalists, and government employees. The attackers manipulate chat conversations with high-value targets into divulging security vulnerabilities or sensitive information under false pretenses of assistance from trusted sources like the Dutch embassy in Moscow.
Key Points
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1Russian state-backed hackers are launching a global cyber campaign to gain access to Signal and WhatsApp accounts.
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2The attack targets high-profile individuals, including government officials, military personnel, journalists in the Netherlands worldwide. Dutch intelligence agencies AIVD and MIVD have confirmed these attempts on Monday.
Developments
Perspectives
Russia-backed hackers have launched a global cyber campaign to gain access to Signal and WhatsApp accounts used by officials, military personnel and journalists.
— [Mar 09, 11:08] Russia-backed hackers crack 'uncrackable' apps, warns the Netherlands (Timeslive.co.za)Russische staatshackers proberen wereldwijd toegang te krijgen tot accounts van hoogwaardigheidsbekleders, militairen en ambtenaren op de berichtendiensten WhatsApp en Signal.
— [Mar 09, 11:05] Russische hackers azen op chataccounts hoogwaardigheidsbekleders (Nd.nl)Intelligence confirms Russian state hackers targeting Dutch Signal and WhatsApp accounts
— [Mar 09, 10:41] Intelligence confirms Russian state hackers targeting Dutch Signal and WhatsApp accounts (Nltimes.nl)Zwei niederländische Geheimdienste haben vor einem weltweiten Cyberangriff russischer Hacker gewarnt, die Zugang zu Signal- und Whatsapp-Konten erhalten wollen.
— [Mar 09, 10:28] Russland: Niederländiche Geheime Dienste warnen vor Hackergruppen auf WhatsApp (Newsfeed.zeit.de)Nederlandse overheidsmedewerkers zijn doelwit van Russische hackers die toegang proberen te krijgen tot hun accounts van Whatsapp en Signal.
— [Mar 09, 10:08] Rusland hackt Whatsapp en Signaal van overheidswerkers, melden inlichtingendiensten (Feeds.nos.nl)