OSLO— The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) said on Wednesday that Russian hackers were probably responsible for an act of sabotage at a dam in Norway last April. Norwegian police say that a pro-Russian cybercriminal organization got into the dam’s digital management system, unlocked a valve, and let more water flow for almost four hours. Even while the event didn’t put anyone in danger in the vicinity, it is a worrying sign of an increase in attacks across Europe.
Beate Gangås, the head of the PST, warned Norwegian news outlets that cyberattacks are becoming more common as a way to scare people and cause trouble in Western countries. She said that state actors often utilize proxy groups to carry out these attacks to show off their skills. She called this technique “look what we can do if we want to.”
A pattern of “hybrid attacks” across Europe
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Western officials have blamed Russia and its allies for dozens of “hybrid attacks.” The Associated Press has reported on these events, which include vandalism, arson, and even attempted murders. Officials in charge of intelligence have noticed that this campaign of disruption is becoming increasingly brutal.
When a three-minute video showing the dam’s control panel and a logo for a pro-Russian cybercriminal group was posted on Telegram, the April dam incident became public. Terje Nedrebø Michelsen, a lawyer for the police, told Norwegian television NRK that the footage is real. This is the first time since 2022 that officials have officially said that pro-Russian hackers have successfully attacked important water infrastructure in Europe.
Gangås, who spoke at a briefing called “Hybrid attacks against Norway: are we at war?” said that this kind of activity is expected to happen more in Norway and other European nations. The briefing talked about the rising security risks that don’t fit into standard military categories.