The Grizzly Steppe Report (Unmasking the Russian Cyber Activity): Official Joint Analysis Report: Tools and Hacking Techniques Used to Interfere the U.S. Elections

By U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Grizzly Steppe Report stands as a hallmark anthology that comprehensively addresses the intricate facets of Russian cyber activities and their implications on global security. By synthesizing a plethora of documents and findings, the collection showcases a wide array of literary styles, from technical analysis to narrative storytelling, assembling a crucial mosaic of intelligence insights. The report delves deeply into the subversive nature of cyber warfare, providing a critical examination of cybersecurity practices and their failures. This anthology emerges not only as a reflection on past incidents but also as a guideline for anticipating future cyber threats. Behind this formidable compilation are the analytical and investigative prowess of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security alongside the Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose joint efforts have crystallized into this comprehensive narrative. The multidisciplinary expertise of the contributing analysts, specialized in both cyber-security and intelligence gathering, aligns with contemporary concerns about cybersecurity, digital sovereignty, and international relations. This report is pivotal in understanding the operational conduct and strategic intentions behind nation-state cyber activities, offering invaluable insights amidst rising geopolitical tensions. The Grizzly Steppe Report is an essential read for policymakers, cybersecurity professionals, and scholars of international affairs. It orchestrates an in-depth exploration of the dynamics and complexity of modern cybersecurity challenges, advocating for informed vigilance in the digital age. Readers are invited to dissect the meticulous research and collaborative effort encapsulated within this anthology, which not only educates but also empowers stakeholders across various domains to strategically navigate the cybersecurity landscape.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Musaicum Books
• Release date: Oct 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9788027221455

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Summary

Table of Contents

This Joint Analysis Report (JAR) is the result of analytic efforts between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This document provides technical details regarding the tools and infrastructure used by the Russian civilian and military intelligence Services (RIS) to compromise and exploit networks and endpoints associated with the U.S. election, as well as a range of U.S. Government, political, and private sector entities. The U.S. Government is referring to this malicious cyber activity by RIS as GRIZZLY STEPPE.

Previous JARs have not attributed malicious cyber activity to specific countries or threat actors. However, public attribution of these activities to RIS is supported by technical indicators from the U.S. Intelligence Community, DHS, FBI, the private sector, and other entities. This determination expands upon the Joint Statement released October 7, 2016, from the Department of Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence on Election Security.

Joint Statement from the Department Of Homeland Security and Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Election Security

The U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations. The recent disclosures of alleged hacked e-mails on sites like DCLeaks.com and WikiLeaks and by the Guccifer 2.0 online persona are consistent with the methods and motivations of Russian-directed efforts. These thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the US election process. Such activity is not new to Moscow—the Russians have used similar tactics and techniques across Europe and Eurasia, for example, to influence public opinion there. We believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia's senior-most officials could have authorized these activities.

Some states have also recently seen scanning and probing of their election-related systems, which in most cases originated from servers operated by a Russian company. However, we are not now in a position to attribute this activity to the Russian Government. The USIC and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assess that it would be extremely difficult for someone, including a nation-state actor, to alter actual ballot counts or election results by cyber attack or intrusion. This assessment is based on the decentralized nature of our election system in this country and the number of protections