Ransom-War Part 3: Inflict Maximum Damage
Dmitry Medvedev’s June 13 call to do “maximum harm” to Western infrastructure is not so new: Russian strategists have thought about using ransomware to pressure adversary countries since at least 2016
Summary:
This is Part 3 of Natto Thoughts’ “Ransom-War” series.1 The series argues that Russian ransomware actors are not solely financially motivated; rather, whether they like it or not, they are immersed in a geopolitical context and mindset of confrontation with the “collective West”; in at least some cases the targeting and timing of their attacks align with Russian strategic interests, suggesting some degree of state inspiration or even coordination.
The present section looks at the words and actions of Russian government-linked entities. They offer clues to evolving Russian attitudes on taking advantage of Russian criminal ransomware as part of a perceived ongoing hybrid war against the West.
Former President Dmitry Medvedev’s June 13 2024 call to “find critical vulnerabilities” and “do maximum harm” to Western infrastructures sounds like unusually explicit encouragement of Russian ransomware actors.
However, statements from as early as 2016 suggest the Russian military was alrea…
