As the ongoing conflict in Ukraine engulfs cyberspace, two prominent hacktivist groups have pledged to reign in their cyber warfare in accordance with the first-ever “Geneva Code of cyberwar”, recently unveiled by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
These rules of engagement, designed specifically for civilian hackers, initially faced criticism and skepticism due to perceived implementation challenges. However, Ukrainian and Russian hackers have now expressed their agreement to uphold these new standards.
Since the onset of Ukraine’s invasion, a surge of disruptive cyber-attacks has targeted public services in both Ukraine and Russia, resulting in various scopes of damage. Primarily armed with rudimentary cyber warfare tactics, these hacktivist cells have managed to temporary disable critical infrastructures ranging from banks and corporations to healthcare facilities and government services, leaving a noticeable impact on everyday citizens.
Rejecting the fanfare of high-value military or governmental targets, these cyber activists have focused on creating friction among the general populace with the hope of furthering their respective causes, as evidenced by the rising tide of disgruntled social media posts in response to these attacks.
With their newfound commitment to the ICRC’s rules of engagement, these hacker collectives are anticipated to abstain from executing cyber-attacks that could potentially harm civilians.
The notorious pro-Russian hacking entity, Killnet, supported this notion: its leader, known only as Killmilk, started a Telegram channel that amassed 90,000 followers in the wake of his country’s invasion. Known for his controversial acts of desecration against the flags of Ukraine and NATO, Killmilk deemed his acquiescence to the Red Cross guidelines as Killnet’s “first step toward peace”.
Despite hurling incessant low-intensity cyber-attacks against Ukraine and reportedly maintaining ties with the Kremlin— a connection it staunchly denies— Killnet emerged in the UK National Cyber Security Centre’s list of emerging threats to allied forces of Ukraine.
Provided Killnet stays true to its promise, the group’s attacks on civilian targets including those allied to Ukraine, should cease.
The IT Army of Ukraine, possessing a 160,000-member Telegram group, echoed similar sentiments in their pledge to abide by the ICRC’s eight stipulated rules. As a disclaimer, the group highlighted their resolve to adhere to these rules, despite the potential handicap they could inflict on their operations, pointing out that they had long steered clear from targeting healthcare facilities.
With these significant developments, the digital battlefield is expected to witness a significant dip in the number of cyber-attacks, as such collectives shift their focus to official or military targets instead.
However, this concession does not apply across the board: several other hacktivist communities advocating for varying social, ethical, or patriotic causes globally, refused to comply with these rules. The ICRC’s directive aims to quell the burgeoning frenzy of indiscriminate cyber warfare, particularly evident in the Ukrainian conflict, where an alarmingly high number of individuals are rallying to join such digital militias.
