Microsoft report says sector most targeted by Russian state cyber-activity was government amid warnings of Kremlin’s ‘hybrid warfare’
Russia has increased cyber-attacks against Nato states by 25% over the past year, according to an analysis, as the Kremlin escalates its “hybrid war” against European countries.
Microsoft said nine of the top 10 countries most affected by Russian state cyber-activity were members of the Nato alliance and attacks against them had risen by a quarter compared with the previous year.
The US was the most targeted region, at 20% of all attacks, followed by the UK at 12% and Ukraine – the only non-Nato member in the top 10 – at 11%. Microsoft declined to give exact details of Russian state hostility, but said the most targeted sector was government, representing a quarter of all attacks, followed by research and academia, and thinktanks and non-governmental organisations.
Amy Hogan-Burney, a vice-president for cybersecurity policy at Microsoft, said the company expected to “continue to see activity across many Nato-based areas”.
