The group of hackers “Laundry Bear”, supported by Russia, broke the NATO and Dutch police networks, accuses the espionage from the Netherlands
Illustrative photo – hacker in front of a laptop. Krakow, Poland, August 17, 2021. Source: Jakub Purzycki / Nurphoto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia
A group of unknown Russian hackers so far has been behind last year's cyber attacks that targeted the NATO police networks and several European countries, information services in the Netherlands announced on Tuesday, according to Reuters.
The group, nicknamed “Laundry Bear” by the Security Agencies, was most likely supported by the Russian state, according to a common letter sent to Parliament by the General Information and Security Service (AIVD) and the Military Intelligence Service (MIVD).
“Cyber attacks against Dutch institutions are part of a broader international cyber threat represented by this group of hackers,” the intelligence services in the Netherlands, in a statement said.
According to Dutch secret services, the group acted without drawing attention until September 2024, when it was discovered while carrying out a hacking operation that managed to obtain access to confidential information about Dutch police officials.
“Laundry Bear” has also carried out cyber spy activities against companies that produce advanced, difficult to access for Russia due to sanctions imposed by the West in the context of the Ukraine.
“The investigation also shows that Laundry Bear is responsible for cyber operations against Western governments and other institutions since 2024,” the statement said.
The group would have tried to obtain information about “the purchase and production of military equipment by Western governments, as well as about weapons deliveries to Ukraine.”
In September 2024, the contact and contact details of all Dutch policemen were stolen from a cyber attack, the Minister of Justice of the Netherlands announced, David Van Weel, in a letter to the Chamber of Representatives, at that time. He said that the “work contact details” of all the police employees in the Netherlands were stolen, without affecting the “private data and the information obtained in investigations”. The Dutch authorities informed the National Data Protection Authority and started an investigation, the government evaluating the possible risks for undercover officers.
