Security News > 2020 > February > US, UK Blame Russia for Cyberattack in Country of Georgia

U.S. and U.K. officials are blaming the Russian military for launching an October 2019 cyberattack on the country of Georgia that crippled at least 2,000 government, news media and court websites over the course of one day.

A few hours after the U.S. and U.K. released their statements about Georgia on Thursday, the New York Times reported that U.S. intelligence officials had recently warned U.S. lawmakers that Russia has already taken steps to interfere in the U.S. presidential election.

The 2019 cyberattack against Georgia is the first since 2017 to be traced to a specific unit within Russia's GRU, according to the U.K. National Cyber Security Centre.

The action by the U.S. and U.K. to call attention to Russia's involvement in the cyberattack in Georgia isn't likely to dissuade Russia from attempting other attacks, says Tom Kellermann, the head security strategist at VMware who formerly served as a White House cybersecurity adviser.

Georgia is a U.S. ally, and since 2011, it has been aspiring to join NATO. One reason why the cyberattack appears to have used the image of former President Saakashvili is that he founded Georgia's United National Movement, which espouses close ties with NATO and the European Union and has advocated for South Ossetia and Abkhazia to remain part of the country.

News URL

https://www.inforisktoday.com/us-uk-blame-russia-for-cyberattack-in-country-georgia-a-13748