2/15/2018

CYBERWAR/RUSSIA/UK/UKRAINE: “The White House on Thursday [2-15-18] blamed Russia for a massive cyberattack last year that crippled computer networks at multinational firms world-wide, vowing the hack would be met with ‘international consequences.’
A White House statement on the cyberattack came a day after the U.K. formally blamed Russia. The Kremlin called the accusations ‘baseless.’ An administration official wouldn’t say what the consequences might be or whether the U.S. would act alone or with other nations… The White House statement is the latest accusation of Russian involvement in cyberattacks. On Tuesday [2-13-18], U.S. intelligence officials testified before a Senate committee that the Kremlin wants to interfere in the 2018 American midterm elections.
But the criticism from the White House also comes after President Donald Trump’s reluctance to blame Moscow for interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, despite conclusions of Russian meddling by U.S. intelligence agencies.
The Petya cyberattack last year caused ‘billions of dollars in damage across Europe, Asia, and the Americas,’ the White House said, representing the most destructive and costly hack ever. The attack also has been called NotPetya.
The Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment Wednesday evening on the U.K.’s decision to blame Russia for the attack. U.S. defense and intelligence officials appeared to be caught off guard Thursday by the White House statement, saying they could n’t provide additional details.”

-Nancy A. Youssef, “White House Blames Russia For Massive 2017 Cyberattack,” The Wall Street Journal online, Feb. 15, 2018 06:21pm