The US is hunting down four alleged hackers it believes are involved in campaigns to compromise critical infrastructure worldwide. South Africa is apparently on the hackers’ list of targets.
South Africa has emerged as one of about 135 countries the US claims Russian government employees targeted as part of two massive hacking campaigns aimed at disrupting energy companies and critical infrastructure.
Details of Russia’s alleged energy sector cyberattacks are surfacing as South Africa has taken a rather neutral stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In early March, President Cyril Ramaphosa said it was hoped that negotiations would bring about peace. Should Gazprombank be awarded the contract, amaBhungane reported, this “would raise questions on whether South Africa’s stance on Ukraine is being influenced by its thirst for gas”.
“This group included global oil and gas firms, utility and electrical grid companies, nuclear power plants, renewable energy companies, consulting and engineering groups, and advanced technology firms.” In July last year, the same month as an attempted insurrection in South Africa saw deadly riots flare up mainly in KwaZulu-Natal after the jailing of Jacob Zuma, cybercriminals targeted Transnet and Transnet Port Terminals.
The Federal Security Service consisted of several units, including one called Military Unit 771330, known within the service’s circles as Center 16. Phase two, known as “Dragonfly 2.0”, was more targeted and was carried out between 2014 and 2017. It focused on individuals and engineers who worked with ICS/Scada systems. This phase allegedly targeted “more than 3,300 users at more than 500 US and international companies and entities”. Servers that hosted websites visited by engineers in the energy sector were also compromised.
In October 2020, the US sanctioned the State Research Center of the Russian Federation FGUP Central Scientific Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics over Triton malware.
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