Crossroads Blog | Institute National Security and Counterterrorism

Cyber Attacks, Cybersecurity, Russia, Stuxnet

Cyber Round Up: General pleads guilty in Stuxnet probe; Russian hacker arrested abroad; National Guard a unique contributor to cybersecurity

  • 4 star general snagged for lying in Stuxnet leak probe (Politico):  One of Obama’s closest generals pleaded guilty earlier this week in relation to leaks regarding U.S. cybersecurity efforts abroad, Politico reports. The article says General James Cartwright pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about his communication of classified information with a reporter and biographer.  While the prosecutors did not explicitly address the program, according to Politico, the investigation is known to be centered around Stuxnet, a classified U.S.-Israeli cyber operation designed to debilitate Iran’s nuclear program.  The report stressed that the government was determined for a felony conviction here, which reflects a divergence in its handling of other similar leaks in recent history.   The full text of the article can be found here.
  • Russian alleged hacker arrested in Prague over cyber-attacks in US (The Guardian): Another chapter unfolded in the cyber saga between Russia and the U.S., as multiple reports say that Czech police arrested a Russian believed to be involved in cyberattacks against the United States.   An article from The Guardian says that the arrest happened over two weeks ago and was just made public now.   The report stated that nothing indicates that this individual was involved in the recent series of attacks that have heightened tension in U.S.-Russian relations.  The article emphasizes the role international law and cooperation plays in enforcing cybersecurity, and adds that the next step is determining whether the Czech government will extradite to the U.S.   The full text of the article can be found here.
  • National Guard uniquely positioned to contribute in cyber realm (Air Force News):  A discussion regarding the role of the National Guard and its unique capabilities was part of the North American International Cyber Summit in Michigan earlier this week.  One of many speakers at the event, General Joseph Lengyel acknowledged the benefit of having civilians with cyber experience serving in the guard.  The article provides the General’s analysis, which says that as beneficial as military training is in the private sector, cyber experience from major corporations strengthens the Guard’s ability to respond to cyber incidents. The article provided further information detailing the National Guard’s strong cyber presence throughout the country and its long history in the cyber realm dating back to Y2K coding in 1999.  The full text of the article can be found here.

 

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