Russia and China lead on offensive cyber skills

Significance

Although public 'naming and shaming' has become a common practice since the 2017 WannaCry malware attack, damaging cyber campaigns show no signs of decreasing.

Impacts

• Cyber actors will use 'false flag' operations, using tools linked to different units to confuse their targets and delay their responses.
• China is showing a willingness to subcontract cyber campaigns to criminal proxies.
• COVID-19 research will be the prime focus of cyberespionage until a vaccine comes on the market.