Russia's Cyber ​​War: The Vulkan Files

On the first day of the Ukraine conflict, countless modems from the satellite provider Viasat were paralyzed across Europe - a targeted cyber attack from Russia. The German power grid was not spared either: around 6,000 wind turbines suddenly failed. Internal documents from the Russian company Vulkan now provide an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at President Putin's sophisticated digital weapons arsenal.

The reveal includes over 5,000 pages of technical guides, countless emails and wire transfer information, all from the hidden world of the enigmatic software factory. The renowned Russian military intelligence service GRU is also among this company's select customers.

Extensive joint research by ZDF, Spiegel, Süddeutscher Zeitung and other renowned media reveals how the Moscow company Vulkan has been working hand in hand with the Russian secret service for some time and developing fascinating digital weapons on its behalf. Several Western intelligence services are deeply concerned. One of these services expresses itself as follows

“Companies like Vulkan enable the military intelligence service GRU to carry out its cyber operations. Programs like “Skan-W” are definitely intended for offensive purposes (…). The Vulkan documents are a rare find and help to understand what the GRU is up to.”

Research how Russia plans cyber attacks

Thousands of internal documents from the Russian IT company NTC Vulkan provide the first insight into Putin's digital cyber war plans. Training documents identify possible targets - for example, “paralyzing rail, air and maritime transport control systems” and “disrupting the functions of energy companies and critical infrastructure”. According to the secret documents, the Vulkan company cooperates with the most important Russian secret services FSB, GRU and SWR. This is shown by joint research by ZDF-“frontal”, Der Spiegel, paper trail media, Süddeutscher Zeitung and other media companies worldwide.

“Vulkan is a pillar of the Russian police state. Vulkan develops software that can be used against its own people and against other countries,” reports a former Vulkan employee.

The “Skan-W” software is intended to scan networks for vulnerabilities through which attacks can then occur. Other programs are intended to enable the Kremlin to block and redirect websites and digital communication channels, for example in conquered and occupied territories.

Several Western secret services consider the “Vulkan Files” to be authentic

“Companies like Vulkan enable the military intelligence service GRU to carry out its cyber operations. Programs like “Skan-W” are definitely intended for offensive purposes,” a service told journalists: “The Vulkan documents are a rare find and help to understand what the GRU is up to.”

The activities of these Russian state hackers can also affect Germany, says Konstantin von Notz from Alliance 90/The Greens and Chairman of the Parliamentary Control Committee. Notz assumes there are “hundreds of such cyber weapons” that are currently being developed.

“These examples and many incidents in recent years make it clear that there is a real threat from cyberspace to the critical infrastructure in Germany.”

The “Vulkan Files” also suggest that Special Unit 74455 of the Russian military intelligence service GRU, known worldwide as “Sandworm,” cooperated with the IT company Vulkan. “Sandworm” is said to be responsible, among other things, for attacks on Ukrainian companies in June 2017. The malware got out of control and infected thousands of computers worldwide, including in the USA, causing damage running into the hundreds of millions. Several “Sandworm” hackers have therefore been charged in the USA.

When asked, Google said that the company had already identified a Vulkan email address in connection with malware in 2012. This is about another Russian hacker group that operates under the name “Cozy Bear”. “Cozy Bear” is blamed for numerous attacks on authorities and organizations in Europe and the USA.

Vulkan Files is research by ZDF in cooperation with DR, Guardian , istories, Le Monde , paper trail media , Der Spiegel , Standard , Süddeutsche Zeitung , Tamedia and Washington Post .

Also read: No, there is no Leopard 2 tank stuck in the mud in Ukraine!


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