Open Access

Invisible Battlefields: Analyzing the Viasat Attack and its Broader Implications

,  and   
Jun 24, 2025

Cite
Download Cover

Abrams, L. (2021, September 10). Hackers leak passwords for 500,000 Fortinet VPN accounts. BleepingComputer. Available at: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-leak-passwords-for-500-000-fortinet-vpn-accounts/. AbramsL. 2021 September 10 Hackers leak passwords for 500,000 Fortinet VPN accounts BleepingComputer. Available at: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-leak-passwords-for-500-000-fortinet-vpn-accounts/. Search in Google Scholar

Ball, J. (2023, December 7). What is hybrid warfare? Non-linear combat in the 21st Century. Global Security Review. Available at: https://globalsecurityreview.com/hybrid-andnon-linear-warfare-systematically-erases-the-divide-between-war-peace/. BallJ. 2023 December 7 What is hybrid warfare? Non-linear combat in the 21st Century Global Security Review. Available at: https://globalsecurityreview.com/hybrid-andnon-linear-warfare-systematically-erases-the-divide-between-war-peace/. Search in Google Scholar

Boschetti, N., Gordon, N.G., & Falco, G. (2022). Space Cybersecurity Lessons Learned from the Viasat Cyberattack. AIAA ASCEND 2022, 4380. BoschettiN. GordonN.G. FalcoG. 2022 Space Cybersecurity Lessons Learned from the Viasat Cyberattack AIAA ASCEND 2022 4380 Search in Google Scholar

Brumfield, C. (2025, January 27). Russia-linked cyberattacks on Ukraine: A Timeline. CSO Online. Available at: https://www.csoonline.com/article/571865/a-timeline-of-russian-linked-cyberattacks-on-ukraine.html. BrumfieldC. 2025 January 27 Russia-linked cyberattacks on Ukraine: A Timeline CSO Online. Available at: https://www.csoonline.com/article/571865/a-timeline-of-russian-linked-cyberattacks-on-ukraine.html. Search in Google Scholar

CyberPeaceInstitute. (2022, June). Case study: Viasat attack. CyberPeace Institute. Available at: https://cyberconflicts.cyberpeaceinstitute.org/law-and-policy/cases/viasat. CyberPeaceInstitute 2022 June Case study: Viasat attack CyberPeace Institute. Available at: https://cyberconflicts.cyberpeaceinstitute.org/law-and-policy/cases/viasat. Search in Google Scholar

European Council. (2022). Russian cyber operations against Ukraine: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union. Council of the EU. Available at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/05/10/russian-cyber-operations-against-ukraine-declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-european-union/, accessed on February 9, 2025. European Council 2022 Russian cyber operations against Ukraine: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union Council of the EU. Available at: https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/05/10/russian-cyber-operations-against-ukraine-declaration-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-european-union/, accessed on February 9, 2025. Search in Google Scholar

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, & Truss, E. (2022, May 10). Russia behind cyber-attack with Europe-wide impact an hour before Ukraine invasion. GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/russia-behind-cyber-attack-with-europe-wide-impact-an-hour-before-ukraine-invasion. Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office TrussE. 2022 May 10 Russia behind cyber-attack with Europe-wide impact an hour before Ukraine invasion GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/russia-behind-cyber-attack-with-europe-wide-impact-an-hour-before-ukraine-invasion. Search in Google Scholar

Greig, J. (2023, August 11). NSA, Viasat say 2022 hack was two incidents; Russian sanctions resulted from investigation. The Record from Recorded Future News. Available at: https://therecord.media/viasat-hack-was-two-incidents-and-resulted-in-sanctions. GreigJ. 2023 August 11 NSA, Viasat say 2022 hack was two incidents; Russian sanctions resulted from investigation The Record from Recorded Future News. Available at: https://therecord.media/viasat-hack-was-two-incidents-and-resulted-in-sanctions. Search in Google Scholar

Guerrero-Saade, J.A., & Van Amerongen, M. (2022). AcidRain: A Modem Wiper Rains Down on Europe. SentinelOne. Available at: https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/acidrain-a-modem-wiper-rains-down-on-europe/. Guerrero-SaadeJ.A. Van AmerongenM. 2022 AcidRain: A Modem Wiper Rains Down on Europe SentinelOne. Available at: https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/acidrain-a-modem-wiper-rains-down-on-europe/. Search in Google Scholar

O'Neill, P.H. (2022, May 11). Russia hacked an American satellite company one hour before the Ukraine invasion. MIT Technology Review. Available at: https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/05/10/1051973/russia-hack-viasat-satellite-ukraine-invasion/. O'NeillP.H. 2022 May 11 Russia hacked an American satellite company one hour before the Ukraine invasion MIT Technology Review. Available at: https://www.technologyreview.com/2022/05/10/1051973/russia-hack-viasat-satellite-ukraine-invasion/. Search in Google Scholar

Poireault, K. (2023, May 9). Five takeaways from the Russian cyber-attack on Viasat's satellites. Infosecurity Magazine. Available at: https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/takeaways-russian-cyberattack/. PoireaultK. 2023 May 9 Five takeaways from the Russian cyber-attack on Viasat's satellites Infosecurity Magazine. Available at: https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/takeaways-russian-cyberattack/. Search in Google Scholar

Redazione. (2024, October 10). The role of satellites in Modern Warfare: Cyber Threats explained. JEOPARDIES. Available at: https://jeopardies.org/2024/10/10/the-role-of-satellites-in-modern-warfare-cyber-threats-explained. Redazione 2024 October 10 The role of satellites in Modern Warfare: Cyber Threats explained JEOPARDIES. Available at: https://jeopardies.org/2024/10/10/the-role-of-satellites-in-modern-warfare-cyber-threats-explained. Search in Google Scholar

Slonopas, A. (2024, July 15). What is cyber warfare? Various strategies for preventing it: American Public University. APU. Available at: https://www.apu.apus.edu/area-of-study/information-technology/resources/what-is-cyber-warfare/. SlonopasA. 2024 July 15 What is cyber warfare? Various strategies for preventing it: American Public University APU. Available at: https://www.apu.apus.edu/area-of-study/information-technology/resources/what-is-cyber-warfare/. Search in Google Scholar

Vasquez, C., & Groll, E. (2023, August 14). Satellite hack on eve of Ukraine War was a coordinated, multi-pronged assault. CyberScoop. Available at: https://cyberscoop.com/viasatka-sat-hack-black-hat/. VasquezC. GrollE. 2023 August 14 Satellite hack on eve of Ukraine War was a coordinated, multi-pronged assault CyberScoop. Available at: https://cyberscoop.com/viasatka-sat-hack-black-hat/. Search in Google Scholar

Viasat. (2022, September 12). Ka-Sat Network Cyber Attack Overview. Viasat.com. Available at: https://news.viasat.com/blog/corporate/ka-sat-network-cyber-attack-overview. Viasat 2022 September 12 Ka-Sat Network Cyber Attack Overview Viasat.com. Available at: https://news.viasat.com/blog/corporate/ka-sat-network-cyber-attack-overview. Search in Google Scholar