Hackers from the self-proclaimed Islamic State attacked 600 Russian Internet resources last year, according to a report by Russian Internet security company Group-IB.
The research used the Bot-Trek Cyber Intelligence technology, which is intended to track preparation and implementation of cyber attacks. According to preliminary estimates, several banks, construction companies, plants, governmental organizations and even research centers and schools were targeted.
Among them were The North Urals Local History Museum, the city portal of Mytishchi in Moscow suburbs, and a school in Bashkortostan’s capital Ufa.
The report highlights the activities of the “Cyber Caliphate,” “Team System Dz” and “FallaGa Team,” three divisions of ISIS which have participated in the attacks since last fall.
Among other methods, the cyber islamists target popular websites to publish their slogans, seeking strong impact in social networks Twitter and Facebook.
“Their attacks seem out of any logic, excepted the fact that they aim to maximize social resonance. Russian Internet security services and Russian companies shouldn’t underestimate their capacities,” commented Group-IB CEO Ilya Sachkov.
“Considering the growing number of ISIS cyber divisions, their training and fanaticism, there is a risk their attack could become more serious, targeting critical infrastructure and putting industrial systems under threat,” Sachkov warns.
