How a possible cyber-attack could affect Americans and how to prepare

[XacerbatedDem]

As Russia’s military continues to strike Ukrainian cities, national security officials are keeping eyes on a different battlefield.

Senior U.S. law enforcement and Homeland Security officials have told ABC News that there is growing concern that Russia could launch further cyber-attacks against the West. The potential targets include electrical grids, banking systems and mobile networks, according to the officials.

Currently, there is no cyber threat to the U.S. homeland, according to the Department of Homeland security.

Cybersecurity experts tell ABC News that people shouldn't panic over a potential cyberattack, but they should start preparing for one.

‘snip’

The Department of Homeland Security, the agency tasked with the domestic response to the invasion in Ukraine, has set up a page on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency’s website specifically warning of cyber-attacks emanating from Russia.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/how-a-possible-cyberattack-could-affect-americans-and-how-to-prepare/ar-AAUjsSX?ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

More at site

updated link

[ck4829]

1. Best way to prepare? Take out Russia with cyberattacks.

[Hortensis]

16. Russia's still a nuclear superpower. Better assume their mechanisms

are independent and protected.

[ck4829]

17. OK... Still worth a shot. This is where "Why bother?", "We better keep the powder dry", etc.

Has gotten us.

[Hortensis]

18. Or, this is where people required to be responsible got us --

instead of a nuclear holocaust.

Most of us live in fairly densely populated areas and would probably have asphyxiated and/or burned to death fairly quickly, rather than been killed or smashed in the initial blasts. Imo, better than dying more slowly, with or without dreadful wounds, radiation sickness, starvation, etc, wondering if loved ones survived and hoping not, in the first days or weeks of a nuclear winter.

[multigraincracker]

2. Does DU still have a recovery site?

Be good to know.

[cilla4progress]

3. Broken

Link

[XacerbatedDem]

5. Sorry, I've updated the link

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Pay your bills early if you can

Plan on 3-4 day outages as a remote possibility at all times. Establish alt channels with friends and relatives. Spare cash might be needed in lieu of debit/credit cards. Don't run the fridge or the gas tank down to empty.

[Liberal In Texas]

6. As always keep your own digital house in order. Use different passwords for everything

something like KeyPass to store long hard to guess passwords. Use different passwords for everything.

Use 2 Factor Authentication when possible. Check out how to use a Yubi Key.

[global1]

7. Talk In English So Us Less Saavy Users Know What You Are Ssying....

I'm not familiar with any of the terms you used in your post. What the hell is a 'yubi key'? Key pass? 2 factor auth?

[Liberal In Texas]

10. These are all terms you can google and read all about it.

[global1]

19. What's Google?,,,,nt

[CrackityJones75]

8. All that is great advice

but a military grade cyber attack is going to take out the electrical grid.

They aren’t stealing your amazon password.

[XacerbatedDem]

9. Russia did hit Ukraine's banks, why not here?

It would put the whole country's citizens panicking because they can't access their money, which means chaos... dogs and cats coming together... mass hysteria!

[CrackityJones75]

13. Right.

But an end users PW isn’t going to be what takes down the bank. Taking out their datacenter would.

[Liberal In Texas]

11. It's possible the average Joe might get hit with a ransomware attack.

However, the average Joe doesn't usually have enough money for them to mess with. But you never know.

Earlier today, the Conti ransomware group stated their “full support of Russian government” and threatened with cyberattacks against anyone launching attacks against Russia.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/ransomware-gangs-hackers-pick-sides-over-russia-invading-ukraine/

The cyber war is going to be a real thing. My point is keeping your digital house in order is smart any time. And just especially now.

[CrackityJones75]

12. Right.. Thats sort of what I was getting at.

Well said.

[XacerbatedDem]

15. With all the cyber attacks over the last few years, I'm not taking any chances..

And it's always good to have a plan. BTW a lot of those attacks came from people in Russia.

[sarcasmo]

14. Every bank/credit card password should be 2 Factor Authentication, so frustrating.