Could America face the same kind of coordinated attack? The answer might surprise you.
Ukraine Invasion: What it means for you and your family if Russia retaliates against the US
Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, launching a coordinated attack by land, sea and air. Joseph Borrel, the EU foreign affairs chief, put it simply: “These are among the darkest hours of Europe since the Second World War.” Countries globally are condemning Russia, weighing in with sanctions to protest, and America’s voice is one of the loudest.
Don’t think for a minute that this invasion is too far removed to impact your life. As the situation continues to evolve, Russia could choose to retaliate against the U.S. over newly-imposed sanctions with cyberwarfare. In 2020, Russian hackers invaded several federal government agencies, including the nuclear weapons agency.
Every-day Americans like you need to brace for massive cyberattacks. Tap or click here to discover how cybercriminals can take down the U.S. power grid. If our sanctions on Russia lead to retaliation, you need to create a plan. Share this story with your friends and family to help them prepare for the worst.
What to know
Kim says it’s almost certain that Russia will hit America with cyberattacks. It would be their way of getting back at U.S. sanctions. There are many pressure points they could hit to maximize the pain.
Firstly, they could cut our fiber-optic cables. When these critical cables are cut, citizens would have to deal with data outages.
That means you could lose your internet connection, storage and even the ability to call someone on your smartphone. Fiber-optic outages slow your work, isolate you and put you in danger since you can’t reach out when you need help.
Even if they don’t come for our cables, they could target our satellites, which are at the center of everyday life. A Russian attack on our satellites could take down a ton of critical sectors, like:
- Internet traffic
- Banking
- Water treatment facilities
- Power plants
- The power grid
They could even disable cellular phones and the GPS network. So if you have to travel a lot for your job, a random attack could leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere with no escape plan.
Make a plan with your family
How do you know the people you care about are OK if no one can get online? Will you still be able to text or otherwise send messages? Have one person in the family be the point of contact.
Critical flaw puts billions of smartphones at risk of attack – What you need to know
Device security flaws can be a major pain in the neck for both consumers and manufacturers. If one device is affected, thousands of others are also in danger. That’s why it’s in the best interest of device-makers to push out patches and updates as often as possible.
Never get between a mom and her babies: So sad and so avoidable. A moose killed a 70-year-old man who got too close trying to photograph her calves in Homer, Alaska. If you see a moose with laidback ears, raised hairs on its hump or licking its lips, it’s about to attack. Run for your life and get behind something solid. Better yet, always leave wildlife alone.
30 grams of xylitol
Made healthy people more likely to have blood clots. The sugar sweetener common in keto and low-carb treats may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. That amount is common for a single scoop of keto ice cream or a few low-sugar cookies, btw. Read those ingredients!
Critical Bluetooth flaw exposes your phone to malware - here's how to patch it
Computer hacks are old news. Phone hacks, regardless of operating system, are the hot new challenge for ambitious criminals. On the whole, it’s trickier to crack a smartphone OS, that’s why it’s such an issue when a major exploit is found.
Two-factor authentication is vulnerable to this new type of attack
Two-factor authentication has long been touted as one of the best ways to make sure you are staying secure online. But recently it seems that this tried-and-true way to stay safe has been beaten by hackers. They are using this knowledge to break into people’s accounts and steal their information. Here’s how to make sure you are safe from this hack.
America's drinking water is under attack
Water systems in Kansas, Texas and Pennsylvania have already been hit by hackers in China, Russia and Iran. Plus, clothes that block 5G waves, AI coming to Alexa, and Walmart’s new digital pricing. We also chat with Joseph Cox about his book “Dark Wire,” which is about Anom, the FBI’s secret app used by criminals.
1 in 10 executives
Say their company has faced a deepfake attack. This year, one worker joined a deepfake video call with his “teammates” that was so convincing, he wired $25 million to the scammers. Companies going through IPOs, mergers or reorgs are most at risk.
Signs of a SIM swap attack
Is your phone suddenly not working? It might be scammers hijacking your number. Here’s how to protect yourself with a simple PIN setup.
600,000 routers
Destroyed in 72 hours by a mysterious hacker. In October 2023, thousands of Windstream internet customers reported their routers had suddenly gone dark. A new security report reveals it was a targeted attack using a single piece of malware anyone can find online. The who and why are both still a mystery.
Get copies of all your medical records
A major cyber attack on a top U.S. hospital chain wasn’t just another hack — it was a wake-up call. Apple has just unveiled its latest line of iPads, packed with new features that are sure to impress. Plus, OpenAI’s new model and the best alternative to going to see a movie.
Our hospitals are under attack
This week’s cyberattack on one of the largest health systems in the U.S., Ascension, was bad — really bad. Plus, a controversial Apple iPad ad, more Cybertruck problems, and Roblox adds virtual billboards to the game.
Mac attack: A new macOS malware called “Cuckoo” is targeting older Intel-based Macs and newer models with Apple chips. It steals passwords and takes over your system. It’s spreading via websites and apps that convert streaming music into MP3s. Stay safe: Use TotalAV to protect your tech — it’s just $19 for a year.
FBI Chinese hacker warning: The FBI warns Chinese hackers are gearing up for a massive attack against our U.S. infrastructure. Under the “Volt Typhoon” mission, these hackers have already infiltrated our telecom, energy and water sectors in an attempt to wreak havoc and induce panic. Now, they’re just waiting for “the right moment” to strike big time. Get this: For every cybersecurity pro the FBI has, there are at least 50 Chinese hackers. Have a just-in-case plan. It’s important.
The 4 best ways to identify false news
Amid Israel’s recent terror attack, there’s a lot misinformation online. Here’s how to find the real news, in one minute.