#

Norway Says Russian Hackers Likely Behind Dam Sabotage Which Affected Water Flows

Norwegian police officials have confirmed that Russian hackers are behind the suspected sabotage at a dam in April, which resulted in disrupted water flows. The revelation has sent shockwaves across Europe, with Western officials warning of an increasingly aggressive campaign of cyberattacks aimed at stoking fear and unrest.

"Cyberattacks are becoming more common, and they're not just limited to disrupting critical infrastructure," said Beate Gangås, director of the Norwegian Police Security Service. "State actors typically use other groups to hack into facilities to show 'look what we can do if we want to,' before bragging about it afterwards."

Gangås made these remarks during a briefing titled "Hybrid attacks against Norway: are we at war?" alongside the head of Norway's intelligence agency. She warned that such activity is only likely to increase in Norway and other European countries.

The suspected sabotage, which occurred in April, saw hackers gain access to a digital system remotely controlling one of the dam's valves and opened it to increase the water flow. The valve was open for around four hours but did not pose a danger to the surrounding area.

A three-minute long video showing the dam's control panel and a mark identifying a pro-Russian cybercriminal group was published on Telegram in April, marking the first time since 2022 that officials have publicly suggested that pro-Russian hackers may have successfully targeted critical water infrastructure in Europe.

Similar videos have previously circulated on social media, but this announcement by Norwegian police marked a significant escalation. Western officials have described a campaign of disruption across Europe blamed on Russia, which has been dubbed "reckless" by experts.

"AP has plotted more than 70 incidents on a map tracking a campaign of disruption across Europe," said an AP spokesperson. The incidents range from vandalism to arson and attempted assassination, with intelligence officials warning that the campaign is becoming increasingly violent.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of attacks and other incidents. The Norwegian police's revelation has added a new dimension to this ongoing crisis, highlighting the growing threat of cyberattacks against critical infrastructure in Europe.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks posed by state-sponsored cyberattacks and the need for increased cooperation between governments and law enforcement agencies to counter these threats. As Gangås warned, the situation is only likely to worsen, making it essential for nations to remain vigilant and proactive in defending their critical infrastructure against these types of attacks.