Dutch authorities have attributed the cyber assaults on their law enforcement to Russian hackers.
Russian Hackers Target Dutch Police, Intelligence Services Warn
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Dutch authorities have implicated a previously unidentified Russian hacking group, known as Laundry Bear, in a series of cyberattacks on the Dutch police that took place last year.
The Dutch military intelligence chief, Peter Reesink, stated that Laundry Bear has successfully infiltrated numerous government organizations and companies worldwide, with a particular focus on EU and NATO countries.
Laundry Bear has been linked to various cyberattacks on military forces, governments, defense companies, and IT service providers in several countries. It is suspected that the group may have state support from Russia.
Investigations suggest that the cyberattack on the Dutch police in September was part of a larger campaign against Western states. The Dutch intelligence services believe that Laundry Bear's activities align with strategic intelligence goals rather than criminal or financial motives.
The group gained notoriety for breaching the Dutch police by stealing session cookies and using infostealer malware to bypass authentication systems and exfiltrate sensitive data. They also employ living-off-the-land techniques, stolen credentials, typo-squatted domains, and spear-phishing to avoid detection and maintain a high success rate.
Dutch intelligence agencies have publicly attributed these activities to a likely Russian state-supported threat actor. They have also revealed some of Laundry Bear's technical methods to improve defenses against their operations and strengthen national and allied cyber resilience.
Sources: ntv.de, AFP.
- The suspected hacker group, Laundry Bear, which Dutch authorities accuse of cyberattacks on the Dutch police, is known for employing sophisticated techniques like living-off-the-land, spear-phishing, and using infostealer malware, activities that align with strategic intelligence goals and may hint at state support from Russia.
- The cyberattack on the Dutch policeis part of a broader campaign, as revealed by Dutch intelligence services, targeting Western states, with Laundry Bear, a previously unidentified Russian hacking group, focusing on government organizations and companies worldwide, particularly those in EU and NATO countries, suggesting a larger political and technological espionage undertaking.
