Prosecutors revealed on Tuesday that four Russian government employees have been accused in cyberattacks against the United States and other countries.

The occurrences had an influence on more than 130 countries in total.

The worm eventually infected almost 17,000 devices. A separate attack targeted over 500 businesses, including several in the United States.

According to an indictment filed in June 2021, the employee, Evgeny Viktorovich Gladkikh, attempted to hack into the networks of an unnamed U.S. corporation.

The other three defendants are alleged hackers for Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, which is in charge of domestic intelligence and counterintelligence. Prosecutors claim they are members of a hacking unit known as Dragonfly by cybersecurity experts.

Some of the attacks took place over a decade ago. However, the claim comes as Americans become increasingly concerned about new Russian cyberattacks linked to the country’s invasion of Ukraine and US sanctions against it.

Russian state-sponsored hackers, according to US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, represent a substantial and persistent threat to key infrastructure in the US and around the world.

Russian state-sponsored hackers, according to US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, represent a substantial and persistent threat to key infrastructure in the US and around the world. Although the criminal charges unveiled today relate to past events, they highlight the essential need for American firms to strengthen their defenses and remain watchful.

The worries are grave, and they also serve as a cautionary note about the potential for future harm if cyberattacks target big American targets.