The Vergecast Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers
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Jul 28, 2020 Andy Greenberg, a senior writer at Wired and author of "Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar," dives into the dark world of the Russian hacking group Sandworm. He reveals how their shift from espionage to destructive attacks like NotPetya has redefined cyber warfare. Greenberg discusses the chaotic yet effective tactics used by these hackers and critiques the inadequate responses from governments. The conversation also touches on the urgent need for international norms in cyberspace and the potential for diplomatic solutions to mitigate these threats.
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Cyberwar in Ukraine
- Andy Greenberg's interest in cyberwar was piqued by Russian hacking during the 2016 US election.
- His research revealed escalating cyberattacks in Ukraine, including the first hacker-triggered blackout in 2015.
Origin of Sandworm Name
- The hacking group Sandworm was named after references to the sci-fi novel Dune found in their malware's code.
- This name proved fitting, as Sandworm's actions mirrored the destructive nature of the sandworm creature in the novel.
US Inaction
- The US government's silence on Russian cyberattacks in Ukraine signaled that escalation was acceptable.
- This inaction contributed to the global spread of attacks like NotPetya.
