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Both before the war and after the occupation of Russia in 2022, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) USAID -funded projects Ukrainian digital defenses in different ways of Ukraine. In particular, USAID projects helped to secure the country from online attacks.
Progress in this Work has come to a grinding stop Since the Trump administration ordered the USAID staff and their contractors to stop the work, while Elon Musk’s Doge is reorganized and, unless the courts can stop them, dismantle the Assistance Agency.
The most prominent project, now pending, was called USAID online security for critical infrastructure in Ukrainian activity. Contracted with Maryland -based government provider DaisyShe announced a project to help secure global diplomatic communication networks of the Ukraine Foreign Ministry in October.
Julie Koenen, USAID Mission Director in Ukraine, said at the time USAID was committed to securing “Essential government functions such as diplomacy can continue“Until January 17, the cyber mission was posting on its Facebook page, encouraging companies to enroll in a project to help Ukraine’s online security businesses enter the US market. The organization’s social sites have gone quiet since Trump became president. Neither Dai and USAID had responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.
Victor ZhoraFormer Chief of Chief in the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection (SSSCIP), said stale that is Concerns for future funds and budget cuts. (Zhora left his role in 2023 on an investigation of corruption. He denies any wrongdoing and has not been prosecuted in court. He is now a security adviser online.) He hopes, however, that online work will continue or under another agency or through whatever remains of USAID.
“I will Recommend strongly keep this special project alive Because of its vital importance, at least by the end of the war, “Zhora said.” This helped build capacity, training people, improve internet security education and strengthen the community. “He showed the purchase of USAID -it of over 5,000 Starlink devices for use throughout Ukraine.
Olele dereviankoThe founder of the Ukrainian Cyber Security Firm of Security Information worked with USAID on various projects over the last half of the decade. He said that While USAID’s work was not always sustainable, it was better to have it than not. “There were many different activities in three pillars: legislation, direct assistance to critical infrastructure assets with deep audits of critical infrastructure and training programs,” he said stale.
Even if Ukraine wants to take advantage of foreign aid projects in the future, there There can be no contractors there to help them. According to a source familiar with USAID programs, if the holding lasts for three months, then many contractors will end the money. This is because USAID contracts operate by making companies pay all costs ahead and then bill the government. “When the quick payment is not made, it means that the contractor is unable to meet his money in hand or in the loan line,” the source said. “And since the lack of quick payment – as notified by this administration – increases the risk for lenders, Their willingness to extend credit to the contractor is zero”
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Great History:
A Doge teens employee is associated with the Cyber Crime Group on the Internet
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A 19-year-old working for Efficiency Department of the Government of Elon Musk (DOGE) has been associated with a free online community known as Com.
Independent reporter Brian krebs tied the teen Edward Coristinewho is reported to go with the nickname “Large ballsOnline, in com through his reported nicknames and discovered information from his former employee, a company called Road networkswhich often hackers convicted.
The committee is similar to a “equivalent of cyber hacopy of a violent road gang”, where internet attacks are often escalated into real -world violence. As Krebs notes, while it is possible to leave the COM, members will sometimes try to find and target deserters. Given that Coristine is working in several high -profile government agencies – it is reported that including the State Department and DHS – he may be presenting internet and physical threats Even in those entities.
Story you need to read today
Wire had previously reported that Coristine was connected to road networks as well as his company Tesla.sexy. It seems that the business offered The coded sharing of the image And they seemed to have linked to internet addresses that refer to pedophilia.
BloombergMeanwhile, there was the story of how Coristine was, who was interned on the path fired for leaking the company’s secrets.
Winner
tumuliAn Irish start offering automation to the online security teams has raised $ 125 million in a series C round led by Goldman Sachs alternatives. His Tools can help speed up responses to security incidents and help users consolidate alarms. Although he began life as a security -focused company, it is now being used to automate other parts of it.
The loser
An international law enforcement operation has led to the raising of criminal charges in the US Novel berezhnoy AND Egor Nikolaevich Glebov for the direction of a cyber crime group it had Ransomware Phobos. Was used to infect 1,000 public and private entities all over the world, generating $ 16 million in reward payments. Two other Russians have been arrested for a omission to Europol.
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