Microsoft Reports Rise in State-Sponsored Cyber Attacks

AFP 

Microsoft has issued a warning in its latest threat report, highlighting that Russia, China, and North Korea are intensifying their recruitment of cybercriminals to engage in activities such as theft, espionage, and election interference.

The report, released Tuesday, reveals that these state-sponsored hackers are not only stealing data but are also involved in launching ransomware attacks, planting backdoors for future attacks, sabotaging operations, and executing influence campaigns.

Tom Burt, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of customer security, stated that the frequency of nation-state-sponsored cyberattacks has reached a level where cyber warfare is now a constant reality, often without repercussions for the attackers.

The report emphasizes a concerning “convergence” between governments and cybercriminals, with nations leveraging financially motivated hackers as “a force multiplier” to enhance their hacking capabilities.

This collaboration has led to an increase in tactics associated with hybrid warfare, attempts to interfere in democratic elections, and a rise in ransomware attacks and cyber-enabled financial fraud globally.

Additionally, Microsoft noted that Russia, Iran, and China have actively participated in efforts to influence elections, aiming to manipulate public perceptions, create discord, and undermine trust in institutions.

The widespread availability of generative AI tools and significant geopolitical events have fostered an environment conducive to these influence operations, especially during critical elections.

North Korea has long operated in a gray area between cybercrime and espionage, with the United Nations estimating that the regime has stolen over $3 billion in cryptocurrency since 2017, further highlighting the growing threat in cyberspace.