According to information from a reliable source, the Blackjack hacker group, linked to Ukraine , breached the computer systems of Moscow-based internet provider M9 Telecom in retaliation for a Russian cyberattack on Ukrainian telecommunications giant Kyivstar.
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The hacker group, codenamed “Blackjack,” has previously been linked to the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). The hackers deleted 20 terabytes of data from M9 Telecom, a Russian internet and television provider, leaving some Moscow residents without internet, the source said.
The digital breach was a warm-up for a larger cyberattack that would be “serious revenge for Kyivstar,” the source said, citing the hackers. The source did not say when the breach.
M9 Telecom did not respond to an emailed request for comment. The company's website remained available on Tuesday, despite the hacker group's claims that it had been compromised.
Reuters could not independently confirm the extent to which Blackjack was successful. M9 Telecom CEO Andrey Pavolvskydeclined to comment when reached by phone.
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Ukraine's largest mobile phone provider, Kyivstar, was hacked last month by Russian spies, in the largest cyberattack since Moscow began war with the country in February 2022.
Russian hackers had been inside systems for months before the attack, Ukraine’s cyber chief Illia VitiukReuters last week. The breach caused “catastrophic” damage to the company, he said.
The Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, known as GUR, announced last Monday that it had received a large collection of secret Russian military data from the Special Technology Center (STC), a sanctioned Russian company that produces the Orlan drone as well as a range of devices for Moscow.
See also: Hacker claims his arrest “violates human rights”
The cyberattack on Kyivstar had significant consequences. First, the attack caused major disruptions to the company’s services, leaving many customers without access to the internet and telephony. Second, the attack compromised the personal data of Kyivstar customers. Although the company stated that no information was leaked, the risk was present and this may have affected customer confidence. Third, the attack had financial consequences for the company. Restoring services and network security, as well as dealing with the effects of the attack, may have cost Kyivstar significantly.
Finally, the attack highlighted the company's vulnerability to cyberattacks and the need to further strengthen its security measures. This may have affected the company's image and credibility in the eyes of customers and investors.
Source: Reuters
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