Russian Government Moves to Assert Increasing Control Over Internet
Publication: Eurasia Daily Monitor Volume: 18 Issue: 27
(Source: AP)
Amidst growing political dissatisfaction, the Russian government is grappling with the apparent vulnerabilities of the country’s internet. On February 1, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairperson of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, acknowledged during an extensive interview with Russian media what foreign analysts have long suspected: disconnecting Russia from the internet is possible (TASS, February 1). And as if to provide a rationale for such potential action, the previous week, the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) National Coordination Center for Computer Incidents (NKTsKI) reported a threat of possible cyberattacks by the United States and its allies against Russia’s critical infrastructure (Interfax, January 22).
White House Plans Executive Action in Response to Hack Involving SolarWinds nextgov.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nextgov.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The national security official leading the Biden administration’s response to the SolarWinds hack says the United States will “holistically” consider all of the "likely Russian" malign cyber actions when putting together a response to massive intrusions.
The SolarWinds Hack Was All But Inevitable this post authored by Terry Thompson,
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Many U.S. companies outsource software development because of a talent shortage, and some of that outsourcing goes to companies in Eastern Europe that are vulnerable to Russian operatives.
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U.S. national cyber defense is split between the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security, which leaves gaps in authority.
The SolarWinds hack was more than just one of the most devastating cyber attacks in history. It was a major breach of national security that revealed gaps in U.S. cyber defenses.
These gaps include inadequate security by a major software producer, fragmented authority for government support to the private sector, and a national shortfall in software and cybersecurity skills. None of these gaps is easily bridged, but the scope and impact of the SolarWinds attack show how critical they are to U.S. national security.