US Offers $10 Million Bounty for Info on Russian Hackers

Federal authorities are offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of a Russian state cyber group that has compromised thousands of Signal and WhatsApp accounts belonging to investigative reporters and US government employees. The operation has been active since at least March, when the FBI published an advisory warning of ongoing phishing campaigns targeting high-value targets by attackers associated with Russian intelligence services. Messages masquerading as automated support communications ask that users click a link or provide verification codes or account passcodes.

In the event the user complies, they unknowingly link the attacker's device to their account or have their account completely taken over and are locked out. The phishing campaigns are designed to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, with the attackers often targeting individuals with access to sensitive information. The US government is urging individuals to be cautious when receiving unsolicited messages and to report any suspicious activity.

The reward offer is part of the US government's efforts to disrupt and deter state-sponsored cyber activities. The threat posed by this Russian cyber group highlights the ongoing risks to individuals and organizations, particularly those in sensitive or high-risk fields. With the ability to compromise popular communication platforms like Signal and WhatsApp, these hackers can gain access to sensitive information and disrupt critical communications.

This bounty offer signals a strong commitment from the US government to counter such threats, but questions remain about the group's true capabilities and the extent of their operations. As the situation develops, it will be crucial to monitor the impact on cybersecurity and the measures being taken to protect vulnerable targets.