Kyiv’s Boryspil Airport suffers cyber-attack; Russia blamed

Ukraine’s military spokesman argues Russia wants to disrupt strategic infrastructure sites

Security is tight at Kyiv’s Boryspil Airport. Baggage screening systems, biometric passports and extra staff ensure people’s safety.

Even special sniffer dogs are on the lookout for suspicious visitors and packages.

But there’s danger that’s difficult to detect and could put lives in danger. That is computer malware.

A cyber-attack from a Russian server was recently detected here. It targeted the key computer system, linked to air traffic control. Luckily, the malware was found early and caused no damage.

But it wasn’t the first such attack. The malware was similar to one launched against three Ukrainian power firms last December. That attack caused short-term power blackouts.

Read also Ukraine Today website under cyber attack

Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for Ukraine’s military said an investigation is underway.

Andriy Lysenko: “The result of preliminary investigations suggest the virus came from Russia. That is why we have grounds to believe that it was a cyber-attack and probably computer sabotage activity to put Ukraine’s strategic sites out of action.”

A review into the defences of government computer systems is underway.

Watch also Meet Ukraine’s cybercrime police tracking down internet hackers

A US cyber intelligence firm in January traced the attack back to a Moscow-backed group known as Sandworm.

 

 

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