My guess is that many of these attackers work at least in cooperation with the Russian government.
It would certainly serve their strategic interests and would align with the Russian Federation’s status as a mafia state. Use criminals to hack opposing countries’ computers, degrading their society. Then, use a cut of the ransom paid to ease the blow of sanctions. In exchange the government gives you more resources to continue your work and provides cover against international law enforcement efforts to stop you.
If those “civilians” would like to avoid Western reprisals for attacking digital infrastructure (particularly the infrastructure that innocent patients need to receive treatment at hospitals), they should cease immediately. Otherwise I have absolutely no problem with handling them like we did Nazis after WWII: hunting them down wherever they are and punishing them for their crimes.
It would certainly serve their strategic interests and would align with the Russian Federation’s status as a mafia state. Use criminals to hack opposing countries’ computers, degrading their society. Then, use a cut of the ransom paid to ease the blow of sanctions. In exchange the government gives you more resources to continue your work and provides cover against international law enforcement efforts to stop you.
If those “civilians” would like to avoid Western reprisals for attacking digital infrastructure (particularly the infrastructure that innocent patients need to receive treatment at hospitals), they should cease immediately. Otherwise I have absolutely no problem with handling them like we did Nazis after WWII: hunting them down wherever they are and punishing them for their crimes.