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The United States prepares its defenses against potential Russian cyberattacks

The US government has announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is coordinating preparations for a possible impact in the United States of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The center of concern is potential cyber attacks by Moscow.

“While there are no threats to the nation at this time, DHS is taking appropriate steps to ensure that federal efforts are coordinated if necessary,” the department said in a statement.

The Department of Homeland Security said it created a group to coordinate the entire federal government in preparing for the potential impacts of the crisis, which it already did last year as a result of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.

The US authorities have warned of the possibility of Russian cyber-attacks against companies or infrastructure in the country, and President Joe Biden reiterated that Washington is “ready to respond” if Moscow launches any kind of digital attack.

On Thursday, Biden announced sanctions against five large Russian financial entities, including the country’s two largest banks, Sberbank and VTB, as well as major businessmen close to the Kremlin, including the head of Rosneft, the country’s largest oil company, Igor Sechin, in response to that. to invade Ukraine.

In addition, he announced restrictions on high-tech exports to Russia to weaken its strategic sectors, including the military, and predicted that over time, the United States and its allies would deprive Moscow of “more than half” of its imports. technology products