Fancy Bear (APT28) is in the news for Russia-linked cyberattacks hitting Europe— Sweden heating plant, global routers, and German tempers flaring. Cyber espionage group.
Researchers identified a campaign where Russian-backed group APT28 hijacked 18,000 to 40,000 consumer routers across 120 countries. The group exploited unpatched devices to spy, intercept credentials, and redirect traffic, raising concerns about widespread vulnerabilities and national security risks.
Russia has been linked to over 150 cyber and sabotage incidents across Europe since February 2022. Recent attacks include a failed attempt on a Swedish heating plant and previous operations on Polish power grids, water utilities, and Latvian railway infrastructure. Western officials warn these actions aim to undermine support for Ukraine and spread discord.