Ukraine gives award to foreign vigilantes for hacks on Russia
6 days ago
- #Cyber Warfare
- #Vigilante Hackers
- #Ukraine-Russia Conflict
- Ukraine awarded foreign vigilante hackers, including the group 'One Fist', for cyber-attacks against Russia.
- One Fist, composed of hackers from eight countries, has stolen military data and hacked surveillance cameras.
- Kristopher Kortright (alias 'Voltage'), a US-based IT worker, received a certificate of gratitude from Ukraine.
- The awards, signed by Ukraine's Airborne Assault Forces commander, recognize contributions to military operations.
- This marks the first known instance of a country awarding hackers for malicious cyber activities.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned against civilian hacker involvement in conflicts.
- Experts argue Ukraine's awards blur lines between combatants and civilians, risking long-term consequences.
- One Fist's notable hacks include disabling Russian-used CCTV cameras and breaching a Russian weapons-maker.
- Ukrainian authorities claimed stolen data dealt a $1.5bn blow to Russia, though the calculation method is unclear.
- Cyber-volunteerism surged early in the war but waned; One Fist continues collaborating with Ukrainian forces.
- Analysts see Ukraine's hacker awards as a potential shift in how cyber volunteers are utilized in warfare.