‘Russia tried to frame North Korea for hacks’

WASHINGTON: Russian military spies hacked hundreds of computers used by Winter Olympics organisers and tried to make it look like the work of North Korea, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, quoting US intelligence sources.

South Korea had previously announced that it was investigating the failure of several Olympic-linked internet sites and broadcast systems just as the opening ceremonies were taking place on Feb 9.

The Post reported that Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency managed to take control early this month of 300 computers linked to the Olympic organisation.

As a result, many attendees were unable to print their tickets for the ceremony, leaving empty seats.

It said the Russians had hacked South Korean computer routers and inserted a form of “malware” that allowed them to gather data and paralyse the network.

The Russians used a North Korean internet provider to make it appear the attack originated in North Korea, in what is known as a “false flag” operation, the Post said.

While American officials quoted in the article were unable to say whether the hackers had activated the malware, they said the cyber attack against the Winter Olympics – from which Russia’s team was excluded for doping – was worrisome.

Some analysts believe the cyber attack was retribution for that ban.

Some Russian athletes were allowed to compete, but only under the designation of “Olympic Athletes from Russia”. – AFP