The Department of Justice (DOJ), USA along with Microsoft has seized 41 web domains belonging to russian hackers running covert operations in the US. The said domains belong to criminal proxies working for the ‘Callisto Group,’ an operational unit within Center 18 of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). These domains were allegedly used by Russian hackers to target US officials, civil societies, NGOs, think tanks, a coterie of military contractors and staff at the Department of Energy. It also seeked to gather intelligence on the European countries’ support to Ukraine.
As per an affidavit filed by an FBI agent in the case, The Callisto Group or popularly known as Star Blizard has allegedly gained access to sensitive information including the details of the US Government employees and several defense and security policies which is enough for the russian government to conduct malign foreign operation within America. Over the past year more than 50 such web domains have been reported who have allegedly been found in such activities.
More than 80 customers have already been victims of this spear phishing scam used by Star Blizzard. The modus operandi of this organisation is to first register a deceptive proxy within the USA, send emails to targets which directs them to a FAKE login page of Microsoft. The target puts his credentials in it, the same is copied by the attackers and he is again redirected to the REAL login page of Microsoft.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen said that “Disruptions like the one announced today strip our adversaries of the tools they rely on to target individuals, businesses, and governments all around the world ; Our fight against this and other cyber-enabled threats to our national security are by no means over.”
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