US officials announce widened indictment against Russian hackers

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – The U.S. government is offering a $60 million reward for information leading to the arrest of six Russians accused in the so-called ‘WhisperGate’ malware attack.

The cyber hack was an attempt to destroy computer systems in Ukraine and 26 NATO allies including the United States.

“This campaign targeted computers in Ukraine shortly before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olsen said on Thursday. “They targeted computers around the world.”

Officials said the cyberattacks impacted U.S. companies as well but would not say which companies were targeted or if any information was obtained.

“These same criminals are accused of repeatedly targeting U.S. computer networks, including a government agency here in Maryland scanning it more than 60 times for vulnerabilities,” special agent in charge of the FBI’s Baltimore field office, William DelBagno said.

The widened indictment adds five Russian military intelligence officers as defendants. A previous indictment named a Russian civilian.

“The FBI, the Department of Justice will be relentless in pursuing you and so you better pay attention to the fact that we have gotten to you, and we are in your system,” Olsen said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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