#statesponsored — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #statesponsored, aggregated by home.social.
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United 24 Media: Russia Boosts Foreign Propaganda Budget by 54% to Record $1.85 Billion. “Russia allocated a record $1.85 billion for foreign propaganda operations in its 2026 federal budget, a 54% increase from the previous year, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service in a response to Liga.net on May 9.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/05/14/united-24-media-russia-boosts-foreign-propaganda-budget-by-54-to-record-1-85-billion/ -
The Guardian: Revealed: Russia’s top secret spy school teaching hacking and election meddling. “The existence of this path, from one of Russia’s most prestigious institutions directly into its military intelligence apparatus, is revealed for the first time in more than 2,000 internal documents from Bauman, obtained by a consortium of journalists from six outlets: the Guardian, Der Spiegel, […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/05/07/revealed-russias-top-secret-spy-school-teaching-hacking-and-election-meddling-the-guardian/ -
The Guardian: Revealed: Russia’s top secret spy school teaching hacking and election meddling. “The existence of this path, from one of Russia’s most prestigious institutions directly into its military intelligence apparatus, is revealed for the first time in more than 2,000 internal documents from Bauman, obtained by a consortium of journalists from six outlets: the Guardian, Der Spiegel, […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/05/07/revealed-russias-top-secret-spy-school-teaching-hacking-and-election-meddling-the-guardian/ -
The Guardian: Revealed: Russia’s top secret spy school teaching hacking and election meddling. “The existence of this path, from one of Russia’s most prestigious institutions directly into its military intelligence apparatus, is revealed for the first time in more than 2,000 internal documents from Bauman, obtained by a consortium of journalists from six outlets: the Guardian, Der Spiegel, […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/05/07/revealed-russias-top-secret-spy-school-teaching-hacking-and-election-meddling-the-guardian/ -
The Guardian: Revealed: Russia’s top secret spy school teaching hacking and election meddling. “The existence of this path, from one of Russia’s most prestigious institutions directly into its military intelligence apparatus, is revealed for the first time in more than 2,000 internal documents from Bauman, obtained by a consortium of journalists from six outlets: the Guardian, Der Spiegel, […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/05/07/revealed-russias-top-secret-spy-school-teaching-hacking-and-election-meddling-the-guardian/ -
The Guardian: Revealed: Russia’s top secret spy school teaching hacking and election meddling. “The existence of this path, from one of Russia’s most prestigious institutions directly into its military intelligence apparatus, is revealed for the first time in more than 2,000 internal documents from Bauman, obtained by a consortium of journalists from six outlets: the Guardian, Der Spiegel, […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/05/07/revealed-russias-top-secret-spy-school-teaching-hacking-and-election-meddling-the-guardian/ -
MuddyWater hackers exploit Chaos ransomware as cyber-espionage decoy
MuddyWater hackers have cleverly used Chaos ransomware as a decoy to mask their true intentions - and it's not about making a quick buck. Instead, their tactics suggest a more sinister goal, blurring the lines between state-sponsored espionage and cybercrime.
#Muddywater #Iran #Cyberespionage #Statesponsored #Ransomware
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MuddyWater hackers exploit Chaos ransomware as cyber-espionage decoy
MuddyWater hackers have cleverly used Chaos ransomware as a decoy to mask their true intentions - and it's not about making a quick buck. Instead, their tactics suggest a more sinister goal, blurring the lines between state-sponsored espionage and cybercrime.
#Muddywater #Iran #Cyberespionage #Statesponsored #Ransomware
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Associated Press: Most serious cyberattacks against the UK now from Russia, Iran and China, cyber chief will say. “The most serious cyberattacks in the U.K. are now carried out by hostile nations including Russia, Iran and China, the head of the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will say in a speech Wednesday.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/22/associated-press-most-serious-cyberattacks-against-the-uk-now-from-russia-iran-and-china-cyber-chief-will-say/ -
Reuters: China turns Taiwan’s own voices against it in information war. “Chinese state media outlets are increasingly amplifying Taiwanese critics of the island’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), including influencers and politicians linked to the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), according to five Taiwanese security officials and data from Taipei-based research group IORG that was […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/17/reuters-china-turns-taiwans-own-voices-against-it-in-information-war/ -
Reuters: China turns Taiwan’s own voices against it in information war. “Chinese state media outlets are increasingly amplifying Taiwanese critics of the island’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), including influencers and politicians linked to the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), according to five Taiwanese security officials and data from Taipei-based research group IORG that was […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/17/reuters-china-turns-taiwans-own-voices-against-it-in-information-war/ -
Reuters: China turns Taiwan’s own voices against it in information war. “Chinese state media outlets are increasingly amplifying Taiwanese critics of the island’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), including influencers and politicians linked to the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), according to five Taiwanese security officials and data from Taipei-based research group IORG that was […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/17/reuters-china-turns-taiwans-own-voices-against-it-in-information-war/ -
Reuters: China turns Taiwan’s own voices against it in information war. “Chinese state media outlets are increasingly amplifying Taiwanese critics of the island’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), including influencers and politicians linked to the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), according to five Taiwanese security officials and data from Taipei-based research group IORG that was […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/17/reuters-china-turns-taiwans-own-voices-against-it-in-information-war/ -
Reuters: China turns Taiwan’s own voices against it in information war. “Chinese state media outlets are increasingly amplifying Taiwanese critics of the island’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), including influencers and politicians linked to the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), according to five Taiwanese security officials and data from Taipei-based research group IORG that was […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/17/reuters-china-turns-taiwans-own-voices-against-it-in-information-war/ -
The Register: Iran cyber actors disrupting US water, energy facilities, FBI warns. “Iranian-affiliated actors have escalated intrusions targeting critical US water and energy facilities, in some cases disrupting operations, the FBI and American cyber defense agencies said on Tuesday.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/13/the-register-iran-cyber-actors-disrupting-us-water-energy-facilities-fbi-warns/ -
BBC: We spoke to the man making viral Lego-style AI videos for Iran. Experts say it’s powerful propaganda. “For our new BBC podcast, Top Comment, we spoke to a representative of Explosive Media, one of the key accounts generating these clips. He wanted us to refer to him as Mr Explosive. He’s a savvy social media operator who initially denies working for the Iranian government. In previous […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/12/bbc-we-spoke-to-the-man-making-viral-lego-style-ai-videos-for-iran-experts-say-its-powerful-propaganda/ -
Buenos Aires Herald: Leaked documents allege Argentine outlets paid to push pro-Russia content. “A group of journalistic organizations has published a report describing an alleged campaign to influence media outlets across Africa and Latin America based on a trove of 76 documents purportedly linked to Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/04/10/buenos-aires-herald-leaked-documents-allege-argentine-outlets-paid-to-push-pro-russia-content/ -
The Register: Russians are posing as Signal support to launch phishing attacks. “Russian intelligence-affiliated parties are posing as customer support services on commercial messaging applications such as Signal to compromise accounts and conduct phishing attacks, the FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned last Friday.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/27/the-register-russians-are-posing-as-signal-support-to-launch-phishing-attacks/ -
The Register: Japan to allow ‘proactive cyber-defense’ from October 1st. “Japan’s government yesterday decided to allow its Self-Defense Force to conduct offensive cyber-operations, starting on October 1st.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/21/the-register-japan-to-allow-proactive-cyber-defense-from-october-1st/ -
Reuters: Cyber actors linked to Russia targeting users of messaging apps, FBI says. “Hackers tied to the Russian intelligence services are targeting users of consumer messaging applications such as Signal, the FBI and U.S. cyber defense agency CISA said on Friday.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/21/reuters-cyber-actors-linked-to-russia-targeting-users-of-messaging-apps-fbi-says/ -
This change is both state-sponsored and to the benefit of Meta (Facebook / Instagram).
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BBC: Overseas ‘content farms’ creating political deepfakes uncovered. “Overseas ‘content farms’ are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create social media posts about UK politics, an expert has warned. Technology company Meta removed several Vietnam-based pages from Facebook after a BBC Wales investigation found they were spreading fake news.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/12/bbc-overseas-content-farms-creating-political-deepfakes-uncovered/ -
BBC: Overseas ‘content farms’ creating political deepfakes uncovered. “Overseas ‘content farms’ are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create social media posts about UK politics, an expert has warned. Technology company Meta removed several Vietnam-based pages from Facebook after a BBC Wales investigation found they were spreading fake news.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/12/bbc-overseas-content-farms-creating-political-deepfakes-uncovered/ -
BBC: Overseas ‘content farms’ creating political deepfakes uncovered. “Overseas ‘content farms’ are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create social media posts about UK politics, an expert has warned. Technology company Meta removed several Vietnam-based pages from Facebook after a BBC Wales investigation found they were spreading fake news.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/12/bbc-overseas-content-farms-creating-political-deepfakes-uncovered/ -
BBC: Overseas ‘content farms’ creating political deepfakes uncovered. “Overseas ‘content farms’ are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create social media posts about UK politics, an expert has warned. Technology company Meta removed several Vietnam-based pages from Facebook after a BBC Wales investigation found they were spreading fake news.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/12/bbc-overseas-content-farms-creating-political-deepfakes-uncovered/ -
RE: https://social.vivaldi.net/@Vivaldi/116212671551431361
Here is the hard truth — this will happen.
Why?
It’s state-sponsored. The United States government wants this to happen, and Google is more than happy to go along with it because it benefits them too.
I love that Vivaldi and others have signed a letter. I love that people have even created petitions against this. But we’re not the ones who will decide this future.
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Associated Press: State actors are behind much of the visual misinformation about the Iran war. “A deluge of misrepresented or fabricated videos has spread widely online since the Iran war began last weekend, fueled in part by state-linked propaganda influence campaigns — particularly around who is winning the war and how bad casualties have been.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2026/03/07/associated-press-state-actors-are-behind-much-of-the-visual-misinformation-about-the-iran-war/ -
Apple fixes dangerous zero-day flaw affecting macOS, iOS and more
Inbox https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/apple-fixes-dangerous-zero-day-flaw-affecting-macos-ios-and-more-update-now-to-avoid-extremely-sophisticated-attack #cybersecurity #Apple #StateSponsored #nationstate #policticians #diplomats #CEOs #criticalinfrastructure #aerospace -
BBC: Amazon blocks 1,800 job applications from suspected North Korean agents. “A top Amazon executive has said the US technology giant has blocked more than 1,800 job applications from suspected North Korean agents. North Koreans tried to apply for remote working IT jobs using stolen or fake identities, Amazon’s chief security officer Stephen Schmidt said in a LinkedIn post.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2025/12/25/bbc-amazon-blocks-1800-job-applications-from-suspected-north-korean-agents/ -
Tom’s Hardware: North Korean hackers stole record $2 billion in crypto in 2025, including single heist worth $1.5 billion, report claims — rogue state accounts for 60% of all reported crypto thefts this year, $6.75 billion total since records began. “North Korean hackers have hit an infernal milestone of stealing $2.02 billion of crypto in 2025, which is nearly 60% of the total $3.4 billion […]
https://rbfirehose.com/2025/12/21/toms-hardware-north-korean-hackers-stole-record-2-billion-in-crypto-in-2025-including-single-heist-worth-1-5-billion-report-claims-rogue-state-accounts-for-60-of-all-reported-crypto-t/ -
Korea Times: Democracies at risk of persistent foreign manipulation, EU official warns. “The European Commission’s executive vice president for technology sovereignty, security and democracy has warned that democracies are facing ‘constant hybrid attacks’ from foreign actors and called for closer cooperation with Korea to counter cyberthreats, misinformation and online manipulation.”
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Gizmodo: Congress Calls Anthropic CEO to Testify About AI Cyberattack Allegedly From China. “The House Homeland Security Committee has sent a letter to Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to testify on Dec. 17 about a cyberattack campaign allegedly conducted by China-affiliated actors using the company’s Claude AI, according to a new report from Axios.”
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The Guardian: Hundreds of English-language websites link to pro-Kremlin propaganda. “Hundreds of English-language websites – from mainstream news outlets to fringe blogs – are linking to articles from a pro-Kremlin network flooding the internet with disinformation, according to a study released by a London-based thinktank.”
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Daily Beast: Top MAGA Influencers Accidentally Unmasked as Foreign Trolls. “Upon rollout, rival factions began to inspect just where their online adversaries were really based on the combative social platform—with dozens of major MAGA and right-wing influencer accounts revealed to be based overseas.”
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Ars Technica: 5 plead guilty to laptop farm and ID theft scheme to land North Koreans US IT jobs . “Five men have pleaded guilty to running laptop farms and providing other assistance to North Koreans to obtain remote IT work at US companies in violation of US law, federal prosecutors said.”
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The Register: North Korean spies turn Google’s Find Hub into remote-wipe weapon. “North Korean state-backed spies have found a new way to torch evidence of their own cyber-spying – by hijacking Google’s Find Hub service to remotely wipe Android phones belonging to their South Korean targets.”
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Jamestown Foundation: Kremlin Shifts Focus to Information Warfare. “Russia’s draft 2026 budget cuts military spending by $2.4 billion compared to 2025 while boosting funding for state-run media by 54 percent, signaling a potential pivot toward intensified information warfare.”
https://rbfirehose.com/2025/11/10/jamestown-foundation-kremlin-shifts-focus-to-information-warfare/
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Ars Technica: Wipers from Russia’s most cut-throat hackers rain destruction on Ukraine. “One of the world’s most ruthless and advanced hacking groups, the Russian state-controlled Sandworm, launched a series of destructive cyberattacks in the country’s ongoing war against neighboring Ukraine, researchers reported Thursday.”
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The Register: Major telecom supplier compromised by unnamed nation-state attackers. “Nation-state snoops broke into Ribbon Communications – an outfit that provides software and networking gear to Verizon, CenturyLink, and the US Defense Department – last December, remained hidden for about nine months, and stole files belonging to three customers, according to the US telecommunications firm.”
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Over 100 government organizations hit by a single, stealthy campaign. MuddyWater’s new Phoenix backdoor uses cutting-edge tactics to slip past top defenses. Could this signal a new era in cyber espionage?
#muddywater
#phoenixbackdoor
#statesponsored
#cyberespionage
#malwareanalysis -
Chinese Gang Used ArcGIS As A Backdoor For A Year – And No One Noticed
[State sponsored] Crims turned trusted [#ESRI] mapping software into a hideout - no traditional malware required
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https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/14/chinese_hackers_arcgis_backdoor/ <-- shared media article
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https://www.scworld.com/brief/novel-flax-typhoon-campaign-exploited-arcgis-for-extended-persistence <-- shared technical media article
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https://reliaquest.com/blog/threat-spotlight-inside-flax-typhoons-arcgis-compromise <-- shared security technical article
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https://securityaffairs.com/183398/apt/flax-typhoon-apt-exploited-arcgis-server-for-over-a-year-as-a-backdoor.html <-- shared security technical article
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“A Chinese state-backed cybergang known as Flax Typhoon spent more than a year burrowing inside an ArcGIS server, quietly turning the trusted mapping software into a covert backdoor..."
#GIS #spatial #mapping #security #malware #exploit #ArcGIS #server #China #statesponsored #FlaxTyphoon #espionage #SOE #objectextension #hidden #payload #backups #risk #hazard #restapi #credentials #flaw #malicious #persistence -
CNN: Suspected Chinese government operatives used ChatGPT to shape mass surveillance proposals, OpenAI says. “Suspected Chinese government operatives asked ChatGPT to help write proposal for a tool to conduct large-scale surveillance and to help promote another that allegedly scans social media accounts for ‘extremist speech,’ ChatGPT-maker OpenAI said in a report published Tuesday.”
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Ars Technica: US uncovers 100,000 SIM cards that could have “shut down” NYC cell network. “The US Secret Service announced this morning that it has located and seized a cache of telecom devices large enough to ‘shut down the cellular network in New York City.’ And it believes a nation-state is responsible.”
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Medium: Weaponizing Ads: How Governments Use Google Ads and Facebook Ads to Wage Propaganda Wars. “From the Israel–Palestine conflict to Russian and domestic political meddling, paid ads are being weaponized to promote war efforts, demonize opponents, and even undermine institutions like the UN. This article examines how it’s happening, why the platforms permit it, and what ethical and […]
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Ukrainska Pravda: From 12 September Russia prepares “massive wave” of disinformation – Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence chief. “Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), has stated that during the upcoming joint Russian–Belarusian exercises Zapad-2025, the active phase of which begins on 12 September, a large-scale information attack is expected.”
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NBC News: Criminals, good guys and foreign spies: Hackers everywhere are using AI now. “The hackers included an attachment containing an artificial intelligence program. If installed, it would automatically search the victims’ computers for sensitive files to send back to Moscow. That campaign, detailed in July in technical reports from the Ukrainian government and several cybersecurity […]
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Ukrayinska Pravda: Reports of peace terms with Russia are false, says Ukraine’s anti-disinformation chief. “Media reports of ‘plans’ and “agreements” between Ukraine and Russia do not reflect reality, Andrii Kovalenko, head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, has said.”
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CNBC: YouTube wipes out thousands of propaganda channels linked to China, Russia, others. “These campaigns primarily shared content in Chinese and English that promoted the People’s Republic of China, supported President Xi Jinping and commented on U.S. foreign affairs. Over 2,000 removed channels were linked to Russia. The content was in multiple languages that supported Russia and […]
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Mashable: Those scam crypto texts are coming from the Karen National Army and a Myanmar warlord. “Over the weekend, we covered the rise of “wrong person” scam texts — seemingly innocent messages that evolve into full-blown crypto cons. And across the U.S., drivers are getting E-ZPass toll road scam texts in droves. Now, we have a clearer picture of where these types of scam texts are coming […]
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The Register: Open source text editor poisoned with malware to target Uyghur users. “Researchers at Canada’s Citizen Lab have spotted a phishing campaign and supply chain attack directed at Uyghur people living outside China, and suggest it’s an example of Beijing’s attempts to target the ethnic minority group.”