As concerns rise about the likelihood of increased cyberattacks against the west by Russian cyber forces, so the west is attempting to ready itself. Both the UK and US governments have this week issued warnings to citizens of the rising threats of an attack and urged increased diligence.
Many consider a cyber attack almost inevitable given continuing western military support for Ukrainian defense, a growing army of hackers joining forces with Anonymous that have very successfully and daringly taken down or defaced critical Russian web sites including that of the Kremlin, and a proclivity by Putin to use grey or hybrid warfare against those who dare to challenge his supreme authority.
So far however, all we have seen is the usual ransomware and other criminal cyber-extortion activities of Russia's extensive criminal underworld of organized crime syndicates. A proxy army in waiting that Putin can rely upon to act on his instructions, and one that he can claim any involvement with and plausible deniability when their activities are discovered.
Indeed, Putin is now a master of subterfuge being trained by the Soviet KGB in the art of spy craft and disinformation. Putin has very conveniently turned a blind eye to the criminal activities of Russia's organized crime syndicates for many decades, in part because of their usefulness and in part perhaps because of the reported illicit financial and other support Putin receives from these groups.
But should the west be worried and what steps should westerners take to shore up their own cyber defenses? These are questions that were posed by Stephen and Ellie on the UK's GB News Breakfast show this morning.
