WORLD
Romania turns hacking crisis into advantage, helping Ukraine fight Russian cyber espionage
Bucharest, May 18, AZERTAC
Ukraine is turning to an unlikely partner in its struggle to defend itself against Russian cyber warfare: Romania, according to USNews.
The eastern European country known more for economic disarray than technological prowess has become one of the leading nations in Europe in the fight against hacking. The reason: the country's own battle against Internet renegades and a legacy of computing excellence stemming from Communist dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's regime.
Romania, part of NATO’s cyber coalition exercises, volunteered to guide the Ukraine Cyber Defense Trust Fund — and drawn on the condition-possessed Rasirom company. The alliance notes the Rasirom, the cyber-security provider for Romania’s top condition institutions, has “a wealthy experience of cyber defense.”
At NATO's summit last year in Wales, President Barack Obama and other leaders decided to create five "trust funds" — or narrowly focused programs funded by NATO member counties that are meant to help Ukraine reform and modernize its defense capabilities. — including one for cyber defense to help Ukraine's military modernize.
Romania, a member of NATO's cyber coalition exercises, volunteered to lead the Ukraine Cyber Defense Trust Fund — and tapped the state-owned Rasirom company. The alliance notes the Rasirom, the cyber-security provider for Romania's top state institutions, has "a rich experience in cyber defense."
Ukraine itself had no say on which country NATO tapped to provide its cyber security. But since 2013 it has cooperated with Romania on fighting hacking, phishing, child porn and DDoS attacks, which attempt to disable a website by swamping it with traffic.
Europol is also tapping into Romania's cyber savvy.