Group FROZENBARENTS targets energy sector, with Ukraine being Russia’s main cyber target this year – IndustrialCyber

Hey, Bay Area buddies! Isn’t it fascinating, and sometimes a bit scary, to see how much of an impact cyber threats have on our global society? From healthcare to the energy sector, no industry appears to be safe from the dangers of these invisible assailants. Just the other day, I was wallowing over my second cup of homebrew, and I stumbled upon this gripping piece of news that really had me thinking.

Apparently, a cyber gang named the FROZENBARENTS group (sounds like something straight out of a James Bond film, doesn’t it?) is causing some major disruptions in the energy sector, half a world away. And guess where their main target appears to be? Ukraine! Yes, you read that right.

2021 looks like it’s turning out to be a bit “cyber-tech-noir” for our friends in Ukraine, who have once again found themselves to be Russia’s biggest cyber focus this year. I mean, it’s one thing to be popular, but to be this sort of popular? I could do with a little less drama, thank you very much.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Why the energy sector? Why Ukraine?” Well, apparently, Ukraine’s infrastructure seems to be particularly appetizing to these cyber-gangs. It’s like a Boba place that has just the perfect amount of sweetness, you simply can’t resist going back. And that’s exactly what these gangs are doing – coming back for round two, three, and who knows how many more.

Experts believe that these threats are significant and not to be trivialized. Picture this, one minute, you’re sipping your beloved Philz, next news flash – ‘major blackouts across the state.’ Chilling, right? That’s the kind of impact we could potentially be looking at if these cyber threats to the energy sector go unchecked. As folks from the healthcare segment, we understand the importance of uninterrupted power supply, don’t we?

The big question is, how do we stay one step ahead of these cyber villains? We must encourage greater transparency, information sharing, and mustn’t we always uphold the power of collaboration? Capsulizing our defenses, and amping up the sharing of actionable threat intelligence are all parts of the puzzle. Remember, the more we share, the more we’re aware, the more prepared we can be.

And it’s not just about Ukraine, is it? We here in the Bay Area have had our fair share of cyber nuisance, right? Whether it’s the healthcare sector, finance, or the tech industry, we’ve seen cyber threats creeping into our lives more than we’d like. Sometimes, it seems as if these guys are playing a never-ending game of Marco Polo – except, it’s not a game and they’re not blindfolded, and we’re continuously on the edge, imagining what’s going to happen next.

So, what’s the takeaway here? As these invisible cyber battles wage on internationally, it’s a stark reminder to us all about the importance of cyber safety and health. Whether we’re sipping coffee in the Mission, hiking in the Redwoods, or cranking out the next big idea in Silicon Valley, cybersecurity matters on every level. If we don’t want a sequel of 2021, we need more network resilience, information sharing among sectors, actionable threat intelligence, and collaboration in our international cyber policies.

So let’s put our quirky, innovative, Bay-Area-brains to work and combat these cyber threats with the same energy we use to cheer on the Giants. After all, wouldn’t you agree, there’s no task too daunting for the cyber-savvy, coffee-loving community of the Bay area? Who’s with me?

by Morgan Phisher | HEAL Security