UK spy chief says Putin losing information war in Ukraine
August 19, 2022, 7:56 am

UK spy chief says Putin losing information war in Ukraine

A photo shows how the Russian invaders destroyed the city of Bakhmut in Ukraine - Photo. The husband and wife photographer team of Konstiantyn and Vlada Liberov via Euromaidan Press

The head of Britain’s GCHQ intelligence service said Friday (August 19), Russia is still failing to gain ground in cyberspace against Ukraine, some six months after its invasion of the country.

In an op-ed in The Economist, Jeremy Fleming wrote that both countries are using their cyber capabilities in the war in Ukraine, but that Russian President Vladimir Putin's tactics are "irresponsible and indiscriminate," Reuters reported, the i24 news said.

Fleming wrote: "So far, President Putin has comprehensively lost the information war in Ukraine and in the West. Although that's cause for celebration, we should not underestimate how Russian disinformation is playing out elsewhere in the world.”

"Just as with its land invasion, Russia's initial online plans appear to have fallen short. The country's use of offensive cyber tools has been irresponsible and indiscriminate."

Fleming said Moscow deployed WhisperGate malware to destroy and deface Ukrainian government systems.

Since the start of the war, Ukrainian sappers, firefighters and rescue workers have been on the front lines, working tirelessly to extinguish raging fires, clearing debris, demining cities and fields, performing their duty with honor. Photo: Euromaidan Press via Vova Neizviestny, Julia Kochetova, Konstantin Liberov

He also noted that Russia is using the same playbook as it did in Syria and the Balkans, and said online disinformation is a major part of Russia’s strategy.

However, the GCHQ has been able to intercept and provide warnings in time, he said.

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Without going into much detail, Fleming said the UK's National Cyber Force could respond to Russian cyberattacks by deploying a UK military unit that employs offensive cyber tools.

In June, the United States warned of elevated cyber threats in the wake of Moscow’s assault on Kyiv, as Western nations began to experience a rise in cyberattacks on financial institutions since the war broke out.

Source: i24news

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”