State-sponsored hackers targeting defence sector employees, Google says

Google has revealed that state-sponsored hackers are increasingly targeting defence sector employees, with a "relentless barrage of cyber operations" aimed at industrial supply chains across the EU and US. This trend is marked by a shift towards more personalised attacks on individuals, often via their personal systems outside corporate networks.

The scope of these threats has expanded to include smaller companies beyond direct defence suppliers, such as car manufacturers and ball bearing firms. Extortion attacks are also being used to target these entities.

Recent attacks by state-linked hackers, including those linked to Russian intelligence, demonstrate the breadth of this threat. These actors have spoofed websites of leading defence contractors from multiple countries, attempted to steal information from Ukrainian military personnel's Signal and Telegram accounts, and even impersonated drone builders or training courses to compromise frontline drone units.

Ukrainian authorities have reported a significant increase in cyber incidents, with a 37% rise in the past year. This is attributed to individualised attacks on employees, with some targets monitored for weeks before an attack.

Beyond Ukraine, other state-sponsored groups are employing similar tactics against defence suppliers and individuals seeking employment in the sector. North Korean hackers have used AI to profile potential targets, impersonating corporate recruiters to gain access to leading defence contractors. Iranian and Chinese state-sponsored groups have also been involved in targeted attacks on employees of aerospace and defence companies.

The implications of these threats go beyond national borders, with foreign technology investments and joint industrial projects expanding the pool of potential victims. As western technologies become integrated into Ukraine's military aid and joint projects, individuals involved in these initiatives are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

omg I'm so worried about this cybersecurity is like a huge deal right now and I feel like we're living in some kinda scary movie where our govts & other countries are basically using hackers as spies . it's crazy that they're targeting not just defence sector employees but also smaller companies and people who work on drones . extortion attacks? that's just insane . I feel like we need to step up our game when it comes to protecting ourselves online, especially if you work with sensitive info or are into high-tech stuff . can't believe Russia is involved in this too ...

I'm getting really worried about our digital lives . I mean, who needs this kind of stress? State-sponsored hackers are just taking it to the next level with these targeted attacks... it's like they're trying to break into your personal system and steal your identity, or worse! And it's not just defence sector employees getting hit – now anyone with a connection to the industry is fair game. I'm all for innovation, but do we really need this kind of vulnerability? These extortion attacks are just adding fuel to the fire... can't we just stick to good old-fashioned cybersecurity measures instead of relying on these high-tech scare tactics?

man... this is getting crazy they're gonna take over our drones and stuff before we even know it... and its not just defence sector employees, anyone who works with defence tech is a target now . i mean, have you seen all these state-sponsored hackers popping up everywhere? russian, chinese, iranian... its like they're all working together to take us down . and the AI thing? that's straight out of a movie, but it sounds too real to be true . we need to wake up people, this is not just about defence sector anymore, its about our entire way of life...

I'm still getting over how crazy it is that state-sponsored hackers are targeting defence sector employees like this . I mean, personal systems outside corporate networks? That's just creepy . And now smaller companies like car manufacturers and ball bearing firms are getting hit too? It's like these hackers have no shame or boundaries at all.

I'm also a bit worried about how this threat is going to impact foreign technology investments and joint industrial projects. If our defence technologies are being integrated into Ukraine's military aid, that just means more people will be vulnerable to cyber-attacks... I was reading some other comments from last month saying that the EU needs to do something about this ASAP?

I'm not saying it's justified or anything, but some people might think that the West is being a bit too aggressive with its sanctions on Russia and other countries... like, what if they're just trying to protect themselves from all this cyber sh*t? And another thing, shouldn't we be worried about our own hackers here in the EU/US? I mean, there's no difference between state-sponsored or not, right? It's just a matter of how you play the game. And let's be real, if North Korea and Iran are doing it too, that's just how cybersecurity is going down these days... So yeah, maybe we should take a step back and reevaluate our approach to all this. We can't just demonize one side without considering the bigger picture, you know?

This is getting outta hand... Can't a company just have some peace and quiet online without being targeted by state-sponsored hackers? It's like they're trying to create chaos wherever they go . Personal attacks on individuals? That's just sickening . What's next, going after people's personal lives outside of work? This is getting too close to home...

just saw this article about state-sponsored hackers targeting defense sector employees and I'm low-key freaking out! stats are crazy - 37% increase in cyber incidents in Ukraine over the past year alone , and it's not just Ukraine, other countries like Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China are all involved . AI-powered attacks are getting more sophisticated by the day , with hackers using personal systems to gain access to targeted individuals .

and don't even get me started on the extortion aspect ... it's not just about stealing sensitive info or disrupting operations, but also about extorting money and manipulating people for personal gain . The fact that these actors are spoofing websites and impersonating corporate recruiters is like something out of a cyber thriller .

anyway, I think we need to take this seriously ASAP ... with western tech investments in Ukraine's military aid and joint projects on the rise, the risk of cyber-attacks is only going to get bigger . We need to prioritize cybersecurity for these defense sector employees and protect their personal info at all costs !

I'm so worried about all these defence sector employees out there... their jobs and personal info at risk . It's like, they're being targeted one by one, even when they're outside of work. Can you imagine getting a phishing email or message from someone claiming to be from your company? it's terrifying.

And I'm also thinking about all these smaller companies that aren't even defence suppliers... they shouldn't be on the radar either . It's not fair that extortion attacks are becoming more common just because their industries are connected to defence somehow.

I mean, we need to be super careful about our online security and stuff . I know some of my friends have already had issues with phishing or similar things... it's always a good reminder to double-check our links and passwords .

It's not just individual people who are at risk either... the whole ecosystem is affected . If these attacks keep happening, it could compromise entire supply chains and projects... that would be disastrous .

We need to look out for each other and stay vigilant online .

OMG , this is getting crazy! I mean, who knew that state-sponsored hackers were such a thing? It's like, they're not just targeting defence contractors, but also car manufacturers and ball bearing firms... what's next? Anyone can get hacked, regardless of how secure their systems are. And the fact that it's getting more personal, with individualized attacks on employees, is super concerning .

I'm loving (and freaking out) about the North Korean hackers using AI to profile potential targets... that's some creepy stuff ! And what about the Ukrainian authorities saying there's a 37% rise in cyber incidents? That's like, a whole lot of people getting hacked !

We need to get with the times and upgrade our cybersecurity game ASAP . It's not just about individual protection; we gotta think about the bigger picture... foreign tech investments and joint industrial projects are basically just asking to be targeted . We can't let state-sponsored hackers ruin everything!

OMG I'm literally freaking out about this! like seriously how can we even protect ourselves from these state-sponsored hackers? I mean, we're already dealing with so much stress and anxiety in our lives, do we really need to worry about being hacked by some rogue government agency? And what's up with the AI-powered profiles? That's just creepy, right?

I don't know if anyone else is feeling this way, but it feels like we're living in a sci-fi movie or something . Like, what even is the point of all these cyber-attacks? Are they trying to disrupt our lives or just cause chaos for its own sake? And what about all the innocent people who get caught in the crossfire?

I know I sound paranoid, but can we really trust that our governments are doing enough to protect us from these threats? Shouldn't they be, like, prioritizing cyber-security or something?

i mean come on state-sponsored hackers are like the worst right now they're not even trying to be subtle anymore . i was reading this article about how russian intelligence is spoofing websites of leading defence contractors and it's just like "okay, you can't even trust a website anymore"

and have you seen these extortion attacks on smaller companies? it's like they're holding them hostage for money like what do we expect from our governments if hackers are doing this to legit businesses?

but seriously, the fact that north korean hackers are using ai to profile targets is just wild i mean, can't these countries just get along and stop trying to hack each other's systems for a sec?

Ugh, I'm so done with these cybersecurity updates ... Like, can't state-sponsored hackers just leave us alone? They're taking advantage of innocent people trying to work for defence contractors or even just working on tech projects that have nothing to do with national security.

And what's up with the personal attacks? Targeting people outside corporate networks and using AI to profile potential targets is so creepy . I mean, I get it, companies need to be protected from intellectual property theft and whatnot, but this feels like a whole different level of harassment.

I'm also worried about the scope of these threats expanding beyond defence contractors to other industries ... like car manufacturers or ball bearing firms? What's next? Companies that sell video games or something? It feels like we're living in some kind of cyber thriller movie .

And can someone please explain to me how these groups are managing to spoof websites and impersonate corporate recruiters? Like, is this really happening in real life?

OMG, this is so scary ! Like, I had no idea that state-sponsored hackers were targeting defence sector employees like that. It's like they're personalizing their attacks now, which makes it even creepier . And the fact that it's not just limited to direct defence suppliers but also smaller companies and car manufacturers is wild .

I mean, I get why governments are doing this, but still... it's like, can't we all just get along online? And what's with these extortion attacks? Like, who does that? It's not even about the money, it's about the vulnerability and control they're trying to exert.

Ukraine is already dealing with so much, and this cyber threat is just another layer of stress on their plate . And it's not just Ukraine, either - other countries are getting hit too. Like, what's next? Will we see more attacks on tech companies that deal with defense projects? It's like, the world is becoming a whole lot more complicated online .

I'm getting really worried about this... Cybersecurity is like, super important for our lives now. These state-sponsored hackers are getting more brazen by the day . I mean, who's gonna protect us from these attacks? It's not just defence sector employees anymore, it's anyone working with tech and innovation.

I'm also thinking about all those foreign investments and joint projects... It's like, we're making friends with our adversaries . North Korea, Iran, China - they're all in this game now. And what's the point of having all that western tech if we can't even secure it?

I'm not gonna sit here and say 'oh no, it's just bad luck' or 'it'll never happen to me'. No way... We need to be prepared for this stuff. Governments need to step up their game and make some real changes, like investing in our cybersecurity infrastructure and making it easier for people to report suspicious activity.

But at the same time... I don't wanna be all doom and gloom about it . We can do this. We just need to stay informed, keep our guard up, and support each other. Cybersecurity is a collective effort, after all .

I mean, can you believe hackers are like the ultimate couch surfers? They just show up uninvited and start snooping around... I mean, state-sponsored hackers, right? Anyway, it's crazy how they're targeting defence sector employees and smaller companies too. Like, who knew ball bearing firms were so interesting to Russian spies? And extortion attacks? That's just nasty. But you know what's even nastier? The fact that these hackers are using AI to profile targets... sounds like a bad sci-fi movie .

So, the big question is: how are we supposed to protect ourselves from these cyber-attackers? Like, do we need to start wearing tin foil hats or something? Nah, I'm just kidding (kind of). Seriously though, it's time for governments and companies to step up their cybersecurity game. We can't have our defence secrets being leaked like a Snapchat story .

And let's not forget, with foreign tech investments on the rise, we're creating more opportunities for hackers to sniff out vulnerabilities... it's like a never-ending game of whack-a-mole . But hey, at least we can take comfort in knowing that our defence systems are probably way more secure than my cat's online profile .

So like, I'm seeing all this news about state-sponsored hackers and it's just getting more and more crazy . These guys are targeting anyone who works in the defence sector, not just major contractors, but even smaller companies and car manufacturers . And get this, they're using extortion attacks to try and get what they want .

I'm worried about Ukraine right now, their cyber incidents have gone up by 37% in the past year , which is crazy. I mean, it's not just individual employees who are being targeted, but even entire corporate systems . And it's not just Russia doing this either, there are North Korean and Iranian hackers involved too .

It's like, we all need to be more careful online, use two-factor authentication and stuff . And maybe the defence sector can do some more to protect itself, I don't know . But it's not just about them, we're all vulnerable if our tech is integrated into joint projects .

these state-sponsored hackers are getting CRAZY! I mean, who does that?! They're not just targeting defence sector employees, but also car manufacturers and ball bearing firms? It's like they think the whole world owes them a cyber-security debt or something .

And extortion attacks? Are you kidding me?! These guys are basically holding people for ransom over their personal systems. It's like a digital hostage situation

I'm not surprised Ukraine is seeing a 37% rise in cyber incidents, though. Those Russian hackers are known for being ruthless . But the fact that North Korean and Iranian groups are getting involved too? That's just wild .

We need to step up our cyber-security game ASAP! Can't let these state-sponsored hackers bully us into submission . We need to protect ourselves, our companies, and our people from these relentless cyber-attacks .

A cyber war is being fought not just on the battlefield but also in our personal systems ! 37% increase in Ukrainian cyber incidents? That's like me trying to keep up with my grandma's memes ... impossible! State-sponsored hackers are getting sneaky, using AI to impersonate corporate recruiters . Western tech investments and joint projects just made our systems more target-prone . It's time for a cybersecurity intervention... or just a really good firewall

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE LIVING IN A REAL-LIFE CYBER THREATENING WORLD RIGHT NOW!!! THESE STATE-SPONSORED HACKERS ARE GETTING CRAZY AND IT'S NOT JUST DEFENCE SECTOR EMPLOYEES ON THE HOOK, IT'S SMALLER COMPANIES TOO!

AND LET ME TELL YOU, EXTORTION ATTACKS ARE LIKE, WORSE THAN ANY THREAT TO A COMPANY'S REPUTATION! WHO KNOWS WHAT KIND OF STUFF THESE HACKERS ARE TRYING TO GET THEIR HANDS ON? IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE DEFENCE SECTOR ANYMORE, IT'S GLOBAL!

I'M TRULY CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT THIS IS HAVING ON THE EUROPEAN AND AMERICAN ECONOMIES. WE'RE TALKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LOSSES HERE! AND WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT THESE ATTACKS ARE GETTING PERSONAL, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE COMPANY OR THE INDUSTRY, IT'S ABOUT THE PEOPLE!