| Berserk Bear | |
| Type: | Advanced persistent threat |
| Purpose: | Cyberespionage, cyberwarfare |
| Region: | Russia |
| Methods: | malware |
| Language: | Russian |
| Parent Organization: | FSB |
| Formerly: | Crouching Yeti Dragonfly Dragonfly 2.0 DYMALLOY Energetic Bear Havex IRON LIBERTY Koala TeamSpy |
Berserk Bear (also known as BROMINE, Crouching Yeti, Dragonfly, Dragonfly 2.0, DYMALLOY, Energetic Bear, Ghost Blizzard,[1] Havex, IRON LIBERTY, Koala, or TeamSpy)[2] [3] [4] is a Russian cyber espionage group, sometimes known as an advanced persistent threat.[5] According to the United States, the group is composed of "FSB hackers," either those directly employed by the FSB or Russian civilian, criminal hackers coerced into contracting as FSB hackers while still freelancing or moonlighting as criminal hackers.[6] Four accused Berserk Bear participants, three FSB staff and one civilian, have been indicted in the United States and are regarded by the United States Department of Justice as fugitives.
Berserk Bear specializes in compromising utilities infrastructure, especially that belonging to companies responsible for water or energy distribution.[5] [7] It has performed these activities in at least Germany and the U.S.[7] These operations are targeted towards surveillance and technical reconnaissance.[6]
Berserk Bear has also targeted many state, local, and tribal government and aviation networks in the U.S., and as of October 1, 2020, had exfiltrated data from at least two victim servers.[3] In particular, Berserk Bear is believed to have infiltrated the computer network of the city of Austin, Texas, during 2020.[8] [9] [6]
The group is capable of producing its own advanced malware, although it sometimes seeks to mimic other hacking groups and conceal its activities.[6]
In 2021 federal grand juries in the United States indicted three personnel of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) and a civilian from the Central Scientific Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics (CNIIHM). These indictments were kept under seal until March 2022 when the United States publicly named the defendants and treated them as fugitives.
Evgeny Gladkikh (Russian: links=no|Евгений Гладких): is accused of targeting network-connected safety equipment with the intent to gain the capability to sabotage them. He was indicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia[10]
The indictment in the case United States v. Akulov, et al. is focused on members of a team within "Center 16" (Russian: links=no|16-й Центр) an FSB component also known as Military Unit 71330 (Russian: links=no|Bойсковая часть B/Ч 71330).
The British Foreign Office states that the full name of Center 16 is "Radio-Electronic Intelligence by Means of Communication" (TsRRSS); Russian: links=no|Центр радиоэлектронной разведки на средствах связи (ЦPPCC)[11]
The U.S. v. Akulov case was filed within the United States District Court for the District of Kansas.[12] The named defendants are:
The U.S. State Department Rewards for Justice Program is offering $10 million for tips that lead to the apprehension of the four named "Berserk Bear" suspects.