March 3, 2022–The White House released a video message on Wednesday encouraging individuals, businesses, and government workers to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses.
“Given the history of Russia’s use of cyber, it’s important that we do all we can to prepare and maximize our resilience,” said Anne Neuberger, deputy national security advisor for a new federal department on cybersecurity.
Neuberger said the country is not raising its threat level on cybersecurity at this time. The message is intended as a precaution in case the level rises. Specifically, she is recommending users patch their systems—keeping anti-virus software up-to-date. She is also encouraging people to enhance passwords with multifactor authentication, such as fingerprints, at sign-ins.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released a series of recommendations on its website in February. In a February State Department briefing, Neuberger said she is working with countries in Baltic states and other parts of Europe to strengthen their defenses. Asked if U.S. officials had any evidence of plans by Russia to launch a cyberattack, she cited past attacks on Ukraine, Estonia, and Georgia over the last decade.
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