The FBI successfully terminates the Snake malware network used by Russian intelligence agents for cyber espionage in the United States
Snake, described as Russia's most sophisticated hacking tool, operated through a peer-to-peer network of infected computers, targeting government agencies and journalists in NATO countries
The FBI developed a tool called Perseus to shut down the network after years of monitoring and decrypting its communications
While the operation is a significant blow to Snake's US operations, the cyber espionage network remains active in other parts of the world
The Turla group, responsible for Snake, has been operating since 1996 with the protection of the Russian state
Human error and vulnerabilities found in the Turla groups' malware development have played a critical role in disabling the malware
Mitigation measures include standard security practices, patching systems, training against phishing, and implementing strong access controls. International cooperation is crucial in combating cybercrime