Russia Ready To Sustain 'Most Sophisticated' Cyberattacks - Communications Watchdog

Russia is ready to sustain even the most sophisticated cyberattacks on the Runet, the Russian segment of the Internet, including through assistance from the country's security services, Alexander Zharov, the head of Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor, said on Monday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd April, 2019) Russia is ready to sustain even the most sophisticated cyberattacks on the Runet, the Russian segment of the Internet, including through assistance from the country's security services, Alexander Zharov, the head of Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor, said on Monday.

Earlier in the day, the Russian upper house passed the bill on sustainability of the Russian segment of the internet in case the country gets disconnected from the global network. Russian President Vladimir Putin has now to decide whether the bill will enter force.

"Certainly, we are preparing for the most sophisticated attacks. I am sure that we will withstand," Zharov said at the upper chamber's session.

The Russian communications watchdog cooperates on the implementation of the bill with mobile network operators as well as with various agencies, "including the special services," the official noted.

The bill aims to create an autonomous Runet in case the country's providers are disconnected from the global web. It would also enable a Russian government entity to centrally administer Internet and communications networks in case of security threat from abroad. The draft legislature was introduced by Russian lawmakers in response to the "aggressive" US National Cyber Strategy released in September.