Risky Business #782 -- Are the USA and Russia cyber friends now?
Mar 5, 2025
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Vincent Stouffer, Field CTO at Corelight, brings his expertise in network visibility and attacker detection to the discussion. The conversation covers North Korea's impressive cyber theft tactics, particularly the Bybit hack. They analyze the U.S.'s shifting stance on Russian cyber threats and how that impacts global security. Stouffer emphasizes the importance of monitoring network traffic to uncover hidden threats while underscoring the challenges of credential management. The dialogue also highlights innovative authentication methods evolving in the cybersecurity landscape.
North Korean attackers demonstrated advanced technical skills in the Bybit incident, showcasing the need for rigorous cryptocurrency wallet verification processes.
Controversial directives within the U.S. government suggest a downplaying of Russian cyber threats, raising public skepticism about cybersecurity communications.
Emerging Iranian-linked DDoS botnets have caused record-breaking attacks, highlighting critical vulnerabilities in national cybersecurity defenses against sophisticated malicious activities.
Deep dives
North Korean Cyber Capabilities
Recent discussions highlight the significant technical prowess exhibited by North Korean attackers, particularly in the Bybit incident. They exploited vulnerabilities in a JavaScript file hosted on a third-party content delivery network, effectively targeting specific wallets with a precision that led to significant monetary theft. Notably, the attackers managed to poison the JavaScript to compromise only Bybit's multimillion-dollar wallet, which showcases their nuanced approach to cybercrime. This incident underscores the importance of rigorous transaction verification processes among users of cryptocurrency wallets, as even small changes can have devastating financial implications.
US Government and Cybersecurity Tensions
Controversy has erupted over reported directives within various sectors of the U.S. government to downplay Russian cybersecurity threats. Allegations suggest a push for Cyber Command and CISA to halt operations against Russian targets, ostensibly as part of an effort to normalize relations. This situation has sparked significant debate about the effectiveness and reliability of government communication on cybersecurity issues, leading to public skepticism regarding CISA's statements. Newspapers and analysts are grappling with interpreting these shifts, indicating an evolving landscape in U.S. cyber defense priorities.
Operational Risks in Cybersecurity Strategies
The complex repercussions of NATO emphasizing operational continuity following the Ukraine crisis have raised alarms about Russian cyber capabilities. Finnish intelligence has warned that the conclusion of the war could lead to heightened cyber threats as Russian resources become available for alternative exploits. This transition could pose particularly serious risks to countries bordering Russia, which remain on high alert for imminent cyber operations. An increase in Russian cyber activity, especially against critical infrastructure, is a prevailing concern among security analysts.
Data Protection and Geopolitical Tensions
Recent actions by the U.K. government have prompted the Director of National Intelligence in the U.S. to examine the implications of a technical capability notice affecting Apple's data protection policies. The withdrawal of Apple's advanced data protection features for U.K. residents raises concerns about the potential leverage that governments may exert over tech companies. This situation points to a larger trend where data protection measures could become compromised due to geopolitical pressures and negotiations. The outcome poses significant implications for user privacy and data security across different jurisdictions.
Botnets and DDoS Attacks
An emerging botnet linked to Iranian sources is believed to be responsible for record-breaking DDoS attacks, primarily utilizing compromised devices for malicious activities. Reports suggest that this botnet employs HIK Vision products, leading to sustained traffic volumes surpassing existing internet capacity capabilities from Iran. This discrepancy raises critical questions regarding the operational scope and efficacy of national cybersecurity defenses in response to such threats. As analysts track these developments, the complexity of understanding the true scale and authority of botnets continues to challenge cybersecurity frameworks.
On this week’s show Patrick Gray and Adam Boileau discuss the week’s cybersecurity news:
Did the US decide to stop caring about Russian cyber, or not?
Adam stans hard for North Korea’s massive ByBit crypto-theft
Cellebrite firing Serbia is an example of the system working
Starlink keeps scam compounds in Myanmar running
Biggest DDoS botnet yet pushes over 6Tbps
This week’s episode is sponsored by network visibility company Corelight. Vincent Stoffer, field CTO at Corelight joins to talk through where eyes on your network can spot attackers like Salt and Volt Typhoon.
