A hacking group known as Star Blizzard, allegedly sponsored by Russia’s intelligence agency Centre 18, has been involved in long-term espionage on prominent figures in the United Kingdom. The group targeted politicians, journalists, and bureaucrats, and the full extent of the damage caused is still being assessed. This situation is particularly concerning as the Kremlin is directly accused of orchestrating digital attacks on the critical infrastructure of the United Kingdom.
The government led by Rishi Sunak has not only pointed fingers at Star Blizzard but has also leveled allegations against the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Moscow, the official spy agency overseen by Ruslan Aleksandrowich Peretytko and Andreah Stanislavovich Korinets. American cybersecurity company ‘SecureWorks’ has investigated these claims and concluded that Centre 18 has been responsible for significant destructive cyber activities in the West since 2017. This intelligence agency was previously linked to the Yahoo attack, where over 50 million email addresses and user information were stolen.
It is reported that the FSB directed Centre 18 to shift its focus primarily to Ukraine from May 2022, after the conclusion of Russia’s conflict with the nation led by Zelenskyy. Subsequently, the agency expanded its mandate to include spying and intelligence gathering from all developed nations, collaborating with other hacking groups such as Sandworm, Fancy Bear, and Cozy Bear.
Star Blizzard, identified as one of Centre 18’s espionage teams, had been actively infiltrating UK government networks for an extended period. However, a joint effort by MI6 and GCHQ’s cyber arm, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), successfully detected and neutralized the group in September 2023, putting an end to their invasion of the privacy of privileged citizens.
Key points:
1. Star Blizzard, a hacking group sponsored by Russia’s intelligence agency Centre 18, engaged in long-term espionage on prominent figures in the UK.
2. The Kremlin is directly accused of orchestrating digital attacks on the critical infrastructure of the United Kingdom.
3. The government led by Rishi Sunak has leveled allegations against the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Moscow.
4. American cybersecurity company ‘SecureWorks’ has linked Centre 18 to significant cyber activities in the West since 2017.
5. MI6 and the NCSC successfully detected and neutralized the Star Blizzard group, ending their invasion of UK government networks.