The US Department of Justice (DoJ) seized over 100 domains used by Russian-backed hackers to infiltrate government agencies. The DoJ unsealed a warrant to take down 41 domains while working alongside Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit, which captured an additional 66 malicious sites. The Russian-backed Callisto Group owned all 107 internet domains.

“Callisto Group hackers used the seized domains in an ongoing and sophisticated spear-phishing campaign with the goal of gaining unauthorized access to, and steal valuable information from, the computers and email accounts of U.S. government and other victims.” the Office of Public Affairs said in a recent press release.

The Callisto group also goes by Star Blizzard and Cold River and is believed to have direct ties to Center18, which itself is a part of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

In the past, the group leaked sensitive US-UK trade documents and has launched frequent attacks on European government officials. They also attacked journalists, nongovernment organizations, think tanks, and over 30 other civil society entities.

They are most known for their aggressive spear phishing schemes, which involve using information to target specific individuals and steal their information.

“The Russian government ran this scheme to steal Americans’ sensitive information, using seemingly legitimate email accounts to trick victims into revealing account credentials,” explains Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.

“With the continued support of our private sector partners, we will be relentless in exposing Russian actors and cybercriminals and depriving them of the tools of their illicit trade.”

According to the affidavits, the Callisto group targeted members of the Department of Defense, Department of State, US military contractors, and staff with the Department of Energy. The victims included both former and current employees.

“Our efforts to prevent the theft of information by state-sponsored criminal actors are relentless, and we will continue our work in this arena with partners who share our common goals,” declares FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate.