United States Is it starting now? Biden warned that Russia has begun preparing for the next phase of the war

Washington

Now it begins?

This question might have been on the minds of many Americans on Monday when the president Joe Biden warned Russia to plan a cyber attack on the United States.

In the past, the United States has stated in general terms that cyber-attacks are part of Russia’s “game book,” a range of means.

Now warning issued by the President himself. Earlier on Monday, Biden also said “Evolving intelligence,” according to which Russia is planning attacks and is currently considering its options.

Biden by Putin now has his back against the wall, forcing him to resort to even tougher means. One such, according to Biden, is a cyber attack.

“Russia’s cyber capabilities are remarkable, and that’s it [kyberhyökkäys] is coming.”

According to the president, the attacks would be revenge for the extensive economic sanctions imposed on Russia. They would have been targeted specifically at the United States.

USA intelligence played a major role before the Russian invasion, as the United States revealed it in near real time to take the possibility of a surprise attack from Russia.

The information shared turned out to be largely correct: Russia launched its attack within the expected time window and targeted the capital, Kiev.

This increases the credibility of intelligence shared by the United States. On Monday, Biden urged companies to do everything they can to protect themselves from possible cyber attacks immediately.

White House Cyber ​​Security Authority Anne Neuberger said on the same day that hundreds of companies have received secret communications from the administration regarding a possible attack on Russia and preparations for it.

However, he said that so far there is no evidence of a “specific cyber attack,” meaning that Russia has decided to launch an attack against, for example, certain companies or the administration.

Software company VMWare’s cybersecurity strategy manager Tom Kellermann thought on Monday that there was a clear threat to the United States.

“The threat of devastating cyber attacks is imminent,” he told Politico by.

This would not be the first time the United States has been subjected to a cyber attack by Russia. Last year, for example, a group of cybercriminals operating in Russia broke into an information system on the Colonial Pipeline oil pipeline, which is important to the United States. The company had to pay a millionth ransom.

This got the administration to wake up to how poorly prepared the United States really was.

Cyber ​​attacks have so far played a surprisingly small role in the war in Ukraine, according to some estimates.

Among other things, Ukrainian banks was targeted yes, a widespread denial-of-service attack in February, and the country has been the target of repeated cyber-harassment since the conquest of Crimea, yet many expected worse.

Some are guessedthat Russia’s cyber capabilities would be exaggerated. Another view is that Russia is just waiting for the right moment.

So far, Russia’s attention has shifted to traditional warfare, when the war has not progressed according to plan. Russia is too speculated fear a possible setback that could further weaken its position.

However, Russia has vowed revenge on countries that have imposed sanctions on it. The United States has led a foreclosure front, and therefore retaliation is expected to target the United States in some respects.

Some experts have pointed out that Russia’s reaction to the United States has been very moderate.

“It’s noteworthy that there hasn’t been an answer. I believe that there is a real possibility that, even if the West does nothing more, Russia could escalate the situation by retaliating, ”said a researcher at the Carnegie incubator. Stephen Wertheim said To Vox magazine.

On Monday the authorities did not specify what kind of attack they believe Russia is preparing for.

Russia’s range of means is considered wide: disinformation, propaganda, cyber espionage, destructive cyber attacks that destroy infrastructure.

In principle, Russia could, for example, affect the US electricity grid, but such an action, which is widely reflected in civilians, would provoke a fierce backlash. It could considered a military operation.

Therefore, some kind of more limited attack is considered more likely.

It is clear that a cyber attack would not go unresponsive.

“Whatever they can do for us, we can do the same for them,” a U.S. authority told NBC News. in an interview at the end of February.

One of the most significant demonstrations of American cyber capabilities is the Stuxnet attack on Iran’s nuclear program in 2007-2010. It used malware to cause enormous physical damage. U.S. implemented operation together with Israel.

Large-scale no cyber war between states has been seen so far. Therefore, there is no ready-made script to proceed.

For example, there is no clear limit to how a serious attack would trigger NATO’s Fifth Article. In principle NATO members could equate a cyber attack with a traditional military attack.

Biden will travel to Europe later this week to meet with NATO allies. The threat of and response to cyber attacks is likely to be on the agenda.