In the run-up to the US elections, the FBI, the US intelligence agency, has offered a sum of $10 million for information about Russian hacking group 29155, a unit of Russian military intelligence.
The digital threat from Russia is also growing in Europe. The group is said to be responsible for several coups and attempts at sabotage. Increasingly, the unit is also targeting the digital world.
Peter Reesink, director of the Military Intelligence and Security Service, warns that Dutch systems are a prime target for cyber actions from Russia.
With the US presidential election looming, the FBI suspects that the Russian group will try to disrupt or influence the election.
Those who can share important information can be rewarded with $10 million - an especially high amount for such information.
The campaign can be seen as a warning from the United States to Russia. Tensions between these two spheres of influence have been running high for years and have been on edge since the war in Ukraine.
The GRU's hacking group does not just target the U.S.; the unit has long had the goal of disrupting European societies. In particular, this includes countries that support Ukraine, including the Netherlands.
The Dutch intelligence service MIVD, in cooperation with the United States and a number of other countries, issued a technical advice regarding GRU unit 29155.
It is recommended that organizations perform frequent system updates and set up multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all account services. This can counter phishing attempts.
Peter Reesink emphasizes that the Netherlands has not yet been a victim of cyber operations by the 29155 unit, but it is a threat to be reckoned with.
The Netherlands is an important link to Europe through its port in Rotterdam. In addition, the Dutch government provides logistical support and other forms of assistance to Ukraine.
