American hackers receive gratitude from Ukraine

The command of the airborne assault troops sent letters of appreciation to the American hackers who systematically attacked the IT infrastructure of the Russian Federation.

However, not everyone at the event is happy with this, tells us BBC.

One of them was the hacker Voltage. His real name is Christopher Cortright, an IT worker from Michigan. He coordinated the hacker attacks from his home.

The 53-year-old is pleased that his work has been officially recognized and awarded a certificate.

Ukraine sends thanks to American hackers for attacks on Russia. Western experts are concerned

The guy is the head of the hacker group One Fist, which stole data from Russian military companies and hacked cameras to monitor troops.

One Fist includes hackers from eight different countries, including the UK, the US, and Poland. Together, they have carried out dozens of cyberattacks.

All of them received certificates of appreciation for their «significant contribution to the development and sustenance of the military». They were signed by the Commander of the Air Assault Forces of Ukraine.

Christopher started hacking Russia when it launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and says he has dedicated himself to the cause and has made many sacrifices.

«I lost my job and spent all my savings on Ukraine’s victory. This award really boosts morale,» he said.

The awards don’t specify which cyberattacks were most useful, but Voltage believes the three most likely candidates are.

For example, it was One Fist that hacked cameras in occupied Crimea to catalog Russian tanks and equipment being moved across the Kerch Bridge.

More recently, hackers have successfully hacked into a Russian arms manufacturer and stolen 100 gigabytes of personal data.

Westerns warn

However, not everyone at the event was enthusiastic about the presentation of certificates for hacking.

Many countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, have official award systems for ethical hacking. But the BBC claims that this is the first time a country has rewarded hackers for what is likely criminal hacking.

Back in October, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned against the use and encouragement of civilian hackers. It published guidelines to strengthen the the spirit of the rules of war set forth in the current Geneva Conventions.

Lukasz Olejnik, author of the book «Philosophy of Cybersecurity», said that rewarding foreign hackers is potentially problematic.

«The awarding of decorations could further blur the lines between combatants and civilians and even undermine the ICRC’s recent call to limit and end the participation of civilians in combat operations. In the long run, this is dangerous,» he said.

Emily Taylor, director of Oxford Information Labs and editor of the Chatham House Cyber Policy journal, also notes that the awards ceremony is a landmark moment that can change the way cyber volunteers are used in conflicts.

«Governments typically discourage non-state actors from taking direct action in cyberspace for fear of escalation or unintended consequences, but wartime is often a period of extraordinary technological innovation, and the invasion of Ukraine is no exception. Sometimes these events force us to reconsider issues that were previously taboo,» she said.

Ukraine sends thanks to American hackers for attacks on Russia. Western experts are concerned

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