Ukrainian intelligence officials have unveiled details about an attempt by Russian state hackers to breach the Ukrainian military’s operational systems.

The hacking attempt: Russian military intelligence hackers targeted Android tablet devices used by Ukrainian officers in order to gather intelligence.
* The hackers intended to collect data from the devices and then create malware to infiltrate the wider military operations network.
* According to Illia Vitiuk, head of the Ukrainian Cybersecurity Department, the aim was to gain insight into the operations systems the Ukrainian military uses.
* The Ukrainian Security Service attributed the cyber operation to the Russian military intelligence organization GRU, specifically to the hacker group known as SandWorm.

Security measures: Despite these hacking attempts, certain protective protocols prevent full vulnerabilities.
* The Delta and Kropvya systems used by the Ukrainian military are segmented, meaning each user does not have access to all components — limiting the potential damage an individual breach can cause.
* Illia Vitiuk also noted that the Delta platform doesn’t directly track Ukrainian troop locations, adding another layer of security.

The malware focus: Among the varied forms of malware discovered, one particularly aimed at gathering information about connection to the satellite internet device Starlink.
* Devices such as Starlink, developed by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX, have been critical in Ukraine during the ongoing invasion, especially when other communication networks are unavailable.
* The malware potentially helps Russian hackers understand the location of specific military units, which they can use for targeted attacks.

The broader picture: Ukraine aims to shed light on Russia’s tactics for a wider audience.
* By openly publishing information about the Russian operation, they hope to expose their tactics and allow partners to defend against them.
* Illia Vitiuk emphasizes the importance of starting to protect these systems as he believes they will likely be used by other countries, making these systems a focal point for future attacks.

View original article on NPR

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