The Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia are currently experiencing heightened tensions due to escalating cyber threats from Russia. As the conflict in Ukraine shows signs of resolution, concerns are mounting within political, military, and intelligence circles that Russia may redirect its focus toward these neighboring countries.
In response, NATO allies, including over 1,700 Canadian troops and aircrew, have reinforced their presence in Latvia, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to the region’s defense. Recently, a significant military exercise at the Ādaži training range near Riga involved forces from Canada, Denmark, Spain, Poland, Italy, Sweden, and Latvia, simulating defensive operations 30 days into a hypothetical conflict with an unnamed northeastern adversary.
Concurrently, Latvian and Canadian cyber defense teams are actively engaged in countering Russian cyber operations. At the CERT.LV center, located within the University of Latvia’s Institute of Mathematics and Computer Science, joint teams conduct threat-hunting operations and engage in direct confrontations—termed “cyber dogfights”—with Russian hackers and affiliated groups. Varis Teivans, deputy manager and senior technical expert at CERT.LV, notes that Latvia has been a target of Russian cyber activities since 2006-07, with attacks intensifying in the lead-up to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The scope of these cyberattacks has broadened from targeting government institutions to infiltrating private sector entities integral to national security, such as software development and logistics companies. To bolster Latvia’s cyber defenses, Canada deployed a specialized five-person military team to collaborate with CERT.LV, enhancing the nation’s capacity to detect and counter cyber threats.
Major Kiernan Broda-Milian, a Canadian officer assisting CERT.LV, emphasizes the defensive nature of their operations, aiming to secure Latvian networks and systems against sophisticated Russian cyber adversaries. This collaboration not only strengthens Latvia’s cyber resilience but also provides valuable insights into Russian cyber tactics, contributing to the protection of critical infrastructure in both Latvia and Canada.
This intensified cyber defense partnership underscores the critical importance of international cooperation in addressing evolving cyber threats and safeguarding national security interests.
Source: Swifteradio.com
