Microsoft warns of Russian cyber operations during upcoming winter
Microsoft warns of ongoing Russian cyberattacks targeting Ukrainian critical infrastructure, as well as potential attacks on other countries aiding Ukraine. They predict cyber-enabled influence operations in Europe alongside the cyberthreat activity. Microsoft’s for Good Lab developed a Russian Propaganda Index to monitor consumption of news from state-controlled Russian sources. Germans notably consume more Russian propaganda compared to other Western European nations.
Microsoft has warned that Russian cyberattacks are likely to continue to target Ukrainian critical infrastructure, and may also target countries and companies that are providing Ukraine with vital supply chains of aid and weaponry. The company also noted that ‘cyber-enabled influence operations’ that target Europe are likely to be conducted in parallel with cyberthreat activity.
Microsoft also announced that its AI for Good Lab has created a Russian Propaganda Index (RPI) ‘to monitor the consumption of news from Russian state-controlled and sponsored news outlets and amplifiers’. Compared to other Western Europe countries, Germans read and watch significantly more Russian propaganda, the AI for Good Lab found.