Stories From Dark Web: Sandworm

The book "Stories From Dark Web: Sandworm" by Mark Rober details the complex world of cyberwarfare, focusing primarily on the activities of the Russian hacking group known as Sandworm. This group, linked to Russian military intelligence, has been responsible for some of the most destructive cyberattacks in recent history, primarily targeting Ukraine and its critical infrastructure.

The book begins with the discovery of a zero-day vulnerability by iSight Partners, a small intelligence firm in Virginia. A zero-day vulnerability refers to a software flaw that is unknown to the developers and thus unpatched, allowing hackers to exploit it before any defense can be mounted. This vulnerability was embedded in a PowerPoint file sent to Ukrainian targets, sparking the investigation into Sandworm's operations. The attack exploited PowerPoint's animation features, demonstrating the sophistication of Sandworm’s techniques, which often used common software as entry points into targeted systems.

Following this discovery, the narrative expands to include multiple attacks linked to Sandworm, from politically motivated espionage to large-scale cyberwarfare. One significant revelation was Sandworm’s connection to the BlackEnergy malware, which evolved from a basic denial-of-service tool into a powerful instrument for espionage and sabotage. BlackEnergy was notably used in several attacks on Ukraine's power grid, including the infamous 2015 Christmas Eve hack, which caused a blackout for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians. This was the first known instance of hackers deliberately shutting down a power grid, showcasing the real-world consequences of cyberattacks.

The book meticulously describes the forensic investigation of these attacks, highlighting the global response from cybersecurity experts. Researchers like Anton Cherepanov from the Slovakian firm ESET and former NSA analyst Robert M. Lee played crucial roles in uncovering Sandworm’s methods. These experts discovered that Sandworm’s malware, dubbed "Industroyer," was designed specifically to target industrial control systems, allowing the hackers to open and close circuit breakers in power grids, causing widespread outages.

Sandworm’s activities weren’t limited to Ukraine. The group also targeted U.S. infrastructure, and although their attacks on American systems were less publicized, the threat they posed was recognized as a serious national security risk. Despite warnings from experts like Lee, the U.S. government was slow to publicly acknowledge the full extent of the threat. The Obama administration, focused on Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections, hesitated to respond aggressively to Sandworm’s attacks, leaving critical vulnerabilities in Western infrastructure.

The book also explores the geopolitical implications of Sandworm’s actions, positioning Ukraine as a testing ground for Russian cyberwarfare tactics. It illustrates how Russia used cyberattacks as a form of asymmetrical warfare, pushing boundaries without provoking a military response. The narrative builds toward the realization that Ukraine’s experience with Sandworm was a precursor to the types of attacks that could—and eventually would—be unleashed on other nations.

Overall, "Stories From Dark Web: Sandworm" offers an in-depth look at how cyberwarfare has evolved into a potent tool for state-sponsored sabotage and espionage. It paints a chilling portrait of the future of conflict, where digital attacks can disrupt not just information systems, but the very infrastructure that modern societies depend on. The book underscores the urgency of developing stronger defenses against these increasingly sophisticated and dangerous cyber threats.