Senior US Cybersecurity Official Warns Threat Of Retaliation From Russia

JAKARTA - The senior cybersecurity official at the White House, Anne Neuberger, said Monday, March 21, that it is urgent that US companies providing critical infrastructure must improve their cyber-defense posture due to the continuing digital threat from Russia.

Neuberger said the US government had seen Russian hacking activity "prepared" to target various US companies. But he also said there was "no certainty" when such an attack would occur.

The US government recently gave secret briefings to hundreds of its citizens. "Especially companies that may be targeted by Russian hackers," Neuberger said, as quoted by Reuters.

The White House also published a written statement last Monday from US President Joe Biden in which he warned that Moscow might strike them with a cyberattack because of the unprecedented economic sanctions imposed on Russia.

This warning, according to Neuberger, is based on "evolving threat intelligence." Many companies in the US have suffered heavy losses during ransomware attacks that were suspected to be from Russian hackers.

It's just that previous malware or ransomware attacks, were not sponsored by the Russian government, At least that's what President Vladimir Putin admits. However, in this warning, Neuberger indicated that the attacks could come from any side.