Microsoft says the same Russian-backed hackers responsible for sabotaging SolarWinds in 2020 continue to attack technology companies, especially those that provide cloud storage services.
Microsoft said the group, which it calls Nobelium, was using a new strategy to make Nobelium “look like a technology partner of the attacking company, to gain access to its systems.” Microsoft said that according to its analysis, since the beginning of May, more than 140 companies have been targeted and 14 of them may have fallen victim.
The US administration, on the other hand, tried to soften the news. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “The activities mentioned by Microsoft are known attacks, aimed at espionage, not sabotage, undertaken daily by Russia or other foreign governments.”
The Russian embassy did not respond to a request for comment.
Relations between the US and Russia have cooled further this year, following a series of cyber-attacks by Russian mafia groups that have taken hostage entire systems of several US companies. President Biden has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to punish the perpetrators, but some cyber security officials have recently said they have not seen such evidence.
