Hackers target Russian Space Hydrometeorology Research Center, cutting off data from defense companies
The Russian Space Hydrometeorology Research Center, Planeta, was the target of a cyberattack by the BO Team group, resulting in the destruction of its database, the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) reported on Telegram on Jan. 24.
The attack specifically affected the largest branch of the center, which is located in Russia’s Far East.
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Planeta is a Russian federal enterprise that receives and processes data from satellites and provides products to more than 50 government agencies, primarily the Russian Defense Ministry, the General Staff, and the Emergency Situations Service.
"The consequences will be devastating. Breaching the center's database made it possible to destroy 280 servers connected to the network,” according to HUR.
“The amount of information destroyed is about 2 petabytes (200 million gigabytes) of data.”
The attack may result in at least $10 million in losses for Russia. The destroyed data includes meteorological and satellite data used "on a regular basis" by the Russian Defense Ministry, Emergency Situations Ministry, Roscosmos and other Russian agencies, as well as unique research that had been developed over the years.
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The operation of the supercomputers, each worth $350,000 with software, at the Far Eastern center is paralyzed and cannot be fully restored. Restoration will be problematic due to software sanctions.
The attack also disconnected from the network the Russian station in the Arctic on Bolshevik Island, which performs important tasks for the Russian military.
"In general, dozens of strategic enterprises of the Russian Federation, which work for the ‘defense’ sector and play a key role in supporting the Russian occupation forces, will remain without critical information and services for an extended period," says HUR.
This incident joins a spate of hacking attacks against Russia, including one that affected an Internet provider used by the Russian government and the FSB.
Hackers from the Blackjack group, allegedly affiliated with Ukraine’s SBU security service, hacked into Moscow's M9com internet provider and crippled its servers, informed sources told NV on Jan. 9.
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