Biden Warns Private Sector of Russian Cyberattacks
The administration says it recently observed “preparatory activity” for potential hacking of American infrastructure.
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President Joe Biden has warned private sector companies in the United States to strengthen their cybersecurity against a potential breach by Russia in retaliation for economic penalties imposed on Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine, reports the New York Times. While there has been no evidence of a specific, credible potential cyberattack against the United States so far, Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, said the administration recently observed “preparatory activity” for potential hacking of American infrastructure, which can include scanning websites for vulnerabilities, and had shared that information with more than 100 companies in a classified briefing.
Neuberger made clear there was still an active threat of Russian hacking against critical infrastructure, including oil and energy companies, and hospital systems. The administration directed companies to “harden your cyber defenses immediately,” recommending measures such as enabling multifactor authentication, ensuring offline backups of data and educating employees on hacking methods.
