Photo by Nikolay Vorobyev on Unsplash
When you’re inside a foreign embassy, you’d probably assume your internet connection is secure. But what if your local ISP is part of the threat?
That’s exactly what Microsoft’s security team uncovered. Since last year, a state-backed Russian hacking group—known as Secret Blizzard—has been secretly targeting foreign embassies in Moscow using a chillingly clever method: planting themselves right in the middle of the connection between devices and the open internet.
The Digital Trap: How Russian Hackers Got In
Here’s how it all played out.
Secret Blizzard, a group with ties to Russia’s Federal Security Service and active since the 90s, found a way to hijack connections at the ISP level. That’s bold. And scary. In Russia, internet service providers are required to cooperate with government surveillance efforts—making this tactic disturbingly effective.
Photo by Adi Goldstein on Unsplash
By sitting in that crucial middle spot (referred to in cyber-speak as an adversary-in-the-middle attack), the hackers redirected embassy staff to malicious websites that looked perfectly legit. All through local ISPs.
Their aim? To install a custom strain of malware named ApolloShadow.
Meet ApolloShadow: Malware with a Mission
So what does ApolloShadow do exactly?
Once it wriggles into a system, its first move is installing a TLS root certificate. This sneaky step lets the hackers impersonate trusted websites within the embassy’s network. That means even when staff think they’re browsing securely, what they’re really seeing could be a controlled trap by Secret Blizzard.
One attack Microsoft broke down started with a fake captive portal—the kind you normally see at airports or hotels. When embassy devices tried to connect to the internet, they hit this fake checkpoint. It triggered a browser redirect to a malicious domain crafted to mimic a real Microsoft page.
Cue the malware download.
To seal the deal, ApolloShadow disguised itself as a Kaspersky installer (yes, the antivirus software), prompting the user to approve a certificate installation. If the system needed admin rights, the malware displayed a fake User Access Control (UAC) window to trick users into giving them up.
Clever, Persistent, and Dangerously Quiet
ApolloShadow doesn’t stop at getting inside. It checks if it already has enough access to move freely. If it does, it changes network settings so the infected host becomes more visible on the network, relaxing firewalls and opening up file sharing.
Why?
That makes it easier to move around the network later, even though Microsoft says they haven’t seen active lateral movement just yet.
Here’s where it gets even more concerning: by planting a root certificate, these hackers can make malicious sites look secure. That lets them stick around and potentially collect sensitive information from inside foreign missions.
What Now?
Microsoft is urging any organization operating in Moscow—especially embassies and diplomatic missions—to steer clear of using local ISPs directly. Instead, they recommend tunneling all traffic through VPNs or encrypted tunnels that connect to a trusted provider outside Russian networks.
Because when your internet provider might be part of the attack, just connecting to the web becomes a risk.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just a story about malware. It’s a larger story about trust, control, and just how transparent—or vulnerable—our digital systems have become, especially in environments where state power intersects with technology.
For diplomats in Moscow, it’s a wake-up call that even routine web traffic isn’t safe. And for the rest of us? It’s another reminder of how deeply political the web has become.
If you’re running sensitive operations in a high-risk region, check your connections. What looks secure might not be. Stay updated. Stay encrypted. Stay cautious.
For more breakdowns on cybersecurity developments, keep following Yugto.io—where smart, thoughtful tech writing lives.
Keywords: Russian Hackers, Moscow ISPs, Foreign Embassies, Fake Portals, Custom Malware, Secret Blizzard, ApolloShadow, TLS Root Certificate, User Access Control, Malicious Websites
