Geopolitical Catalyst - How the Russia-Ukraine War has changed the Hacktivist Landscape

Hacktivism has been present in the threat landscape for decades but since 2022 it has significantly changed to geopolitical motivated activity. This presentation provides understanding of the hacktivist landscape and provides some innovative methodologies to track and monitor the threat landscape. This talk will explore what the geopolitical catalyst was for the shift in Hacktivist activity. How hacktivism has changed. What type of attacks we see and the type of groups using them. What the overall intent and motivations of the Hacktivist groups are. It will explain that Hacktivist activity and information operations are largely entwined. It will explain a new methodology on how to track and monitor Hacktivist groups, by putting them into categories - with four key ones being presented. This talk will challenge traditional views on cyber threats, by shifting the focus from technical indicators and capability to looking at intent to drive analysis. Many organizations are struggling to understand how to view hacktivism in terms of the threat landscape, this talk aims to clarify misconceptions and provide clearer understandings of the Hacktivist threat landscape.