Introduction to Cyber Attacks
In a shocking display of diplomatic aggression, French authorities have publicly accused Russia of sponsoring several high-profile cyber attacks on French entities. These attacks were carried out to gather intelligence and destabilize the country over the past decade. The incidents include a range of attacks, from a faked Islamic State takeover of a French television broadcast signal in 2015 to the leak of President Emmanuel Macron’s emails in 2017.
The Accusations
On Tuesday, France’s Foreign Ministry formally attributed these cyberattacks and several others to APT28, a Russian military intelligence (GRU) hacking unit also known as Fancy Bear. APT28 is best known in America for leaking Hillary Clinton’s emails during the 2016 U.S. presidential election and sustained cyberattacks on U.S. political operations. The activities of APT28 in France followed the same playbook as their activities in the US. The "Macron leaks" were published the day before France’s presidential election in the hopes of swaying voters. The faked ISIS broadcast hijacking, which took place in the wake of the 2015 Bataclan terrorist attacks, were intended to "create a panic in France."
Diplomatic Implications
This is the first time France has publicly attributed a cyber attack to a foreign government’s intelligence service, according to Le Monde. The diplomatic environment has shifted profoundly, with Vladimir Putin refusing to end his years-long invasion of Ukraine without getting to keep the territory he’s seized. This is an untenable position for both Ukraine and the EU, which views Russian territorial gains as a threat to the EU’s geopolitical integrity. Russian cyberattacks pose an additional threat, both to their national security apparatus and election integrity.
Future Plans
In an interview, Macron told the media that he believed that France and their Western allies – including President Donald Trump – would increase pressure on Russia "over the next eight to ten days" to accept their terms. He also announced that France and Poland would soon sign a "friendship treaty" that will include joint efforts to combat Russian election interference via cyberattacks and misinformation campaigns in both countries.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the accusations made by French authorities against Russia for sponsoring cyber attacks on French entities mark a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The fact that France has publicly attributed these attacks to a foreign government’s intelligence service for the first time highlights the gravity of the situation. As the diplomatic environment continues to shift, it remains to be seen how Russia will respond to the increased pressure from France and its Western allies. One thing is certain, however: the threat of Russian cyberattacks will continue to be a major concern for national security and election integrity in the days to come.
