**Rogue Acteur: Exploring Russian State-Sponsored Hacks in America**

**Background**

On Thursday, March 23, 2023, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) warning of continued malicious cyber activities by Russian state-sponsored actors, particularly targeting critical infrastructure and government agencies within the United States.

**Methods of Attack**

The most commonly reported method of attack employed by these malicious actors is leveraging spearphishing techniques, where targeted individuals within government and critical infrastructure organizations are sent emails designed to trick them into clicking malicious links or opening attachments that infect their systems with remote access tools (RATs) or malware.

Once the RATs or malware are installed on the victim's computer, these actors can steal sensitive information, access internal networks, and disrupt operations. They also use "watering hole" attacks, where websites frequented by government or critical infrastructure personnel are compromised and used to distribute malware.

**Implications and Countermeasures**

These cyberattacks pose a significant threat to the United States as they can disrupt critical infrastructure, steal sensitive information, and undermine public trust in government institutions. The CSA recommends organizations implement multiple layers of security controls, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and multi-factor authentication, as well as keep software up to date and conduct regular security audits.

Furthermore, the advisory urges organizations to report any suspicious activity to the FBI or DHS and to be cautious when receiving emails from unknown senders or clicking on unfamiliar links.