Ukraine Crisis Prompts Response from Intel, RingCentral, Other Tech Companies
Intel and AMD reportedly have halted processor sales in Russia.
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In Russia, they are selling lies about the war, Mandiant said. That includes a humanitarian crisis in the Donbass.
In Ukraine, Mandiant has seen Russia pushing fake news to undermine Ukraine President Volodymyr Zalensky to the Ukrainians. They released a fake map that indicated the president was going to let the Poles annex part of western Ukraine as a defensive buffer.
Destructive attacks have not been at scale or really hit major critical infrastructure yet, Mandiant said. The company is worried about that in the Ukraine and everywhere else.
Targeting of critical infrastructure or destructive attacks against a lot of targets is how you scale up your incident and have strong effects, it said. For example, NotPetya was a broad attack against a lot of targets and some were critical infrastructure.
According to Tom’s Hardware, both AMD and Intel have reportedly halted sales of processors to Russia.
Intel sent us the following statement:
“Intel complies with all applicable export regulations and sanctions in the countries in which it operates, including the new sanctions issued by [the] Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the regulations issued by [the] Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).”
AMD couldn’t be reached for comment.
Mobile World Congress (MWC) organizers have banned some Russian companies from the world’s largest mobile technology show. It’s happening this week in Barcelona.
The GSMA is the industry trade body that organizes the event. More than 750 mobile operators are full GSMA members and a further 400 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem are associate members.
“The GSMA strongly condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” the organizer said. “The situation is fast-moving, and we understand that various governments are considering broader sanctions against Russia. In light of this emerging situation and considering the tragic loss of life, MWC seems immaterial under the circumstances. MWC is a unifying event with a vision to convene the mobile ecosystem to progress ways and means that connectivity can ensure people, industry, and society thrive.”
There is no Russian Pavilion at MWC22. In addition, security for the event is constantly reviewed and adjusted as information emerges.
RingCentral has enabled free phone calls to Ukraine for all customers using its services. It also donated $250,000 to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.
In addition, it’s matching all RingCentral employee donations to nonprofit organizations providing relief and support services in Ukraine, up to $1 million.
“What we are witnessing in Ukraine is shocking and distressing,” the company said. “Communications are critical at times like this, and cost shouldn’t be a barrier. We are monitoring the situation carefully and are utilizing our business continuity plans to support our colleagues and partners, and ensure customers are not affected.”
Alex Danyluk, Avant‘s chief strategy officer, posted on LinkedIn about how people can help Ukrainians during this crisis. He was born in the United States and his parents were Ukrainian emigrants who fled Soviet Ukraine during World War II.
“A few of my Ukrainian friends and family, also born in the U.S., have returned to their ancestral Ukrainian to establish lives and businesses,” he said. “Some have successfully fled Ukraine, history repeating a generation later, some are still in transit, others are staying. My 92-year-old mother, who fled Soviet Ukraine in her teen years, told me she sees herself on TV in the faces of the refugees now fleeing Ukraine, holding back tears.”
Danyluk also shared his friend Damian Handzy’s post offering ways to help Ukraine.
Wildix CEO Steve Osler announced his company stands behind its colleagues in Ukraine.
“At Wildix, we support inclusion, diversity and freedom,” he said. “We support the right of Ukraine to stand free, and for its citizens to govern themselves and decide their futures in a fair and democratic manner. Since 2005, we’ve built up a presence in the country, finding talent in the country and nurturing them, helping them grow. The actions taken … by Russia threaten people who we work with and care about. And it threatens their families, friends and relatives.”
Wildix, the unified communications provider, is monitoring the situation on the ground, giving colleagues whatever time and flexibility they need, Osler said.
“We stress that operations will carry on as normal and that the situation in Ukraine will not affect our services nor our commitments to partners and end-users worldwide,” he said.
Wildix CEO Steve Osler announced his company stands behind its colleagues in Ukraine.
“At Wildix, we support inclusion, diversity and freedom,” he said. “We support the right of Ukraine to stand free, and for its citizens to govern themselves and decide their futures in a fair and democratic manner. Since 2005, we’ve built up a presence in the country, finding talent in the country and nurturing them, helping them grow. The actions taken … by Russia threaten people who we work with and care about. And it threatens their families, friends and relatives.”
Wildix, the unified communications provider, is monitoring the situation on the ground, giving colleagues whatever time and flexibility they need, Osler said.
“We stress that operations will carry on as normal and that the situation in Ukraine will not affect our services nor our commitments to partners and end-users worldwide,” he said.
As the Ukraine-Russia war intensifies, tech companies and the tech community are responding with actions against Russia and support for the Ukraine.
According to CNBC, Ukrainian and Russian officials wrapped up a critical round of talks Monday near the border with Belarus. More negotiations could come in the days ahead.
In the meantime, Ukraine’s armed forces continue to hold off Russian troops. They’re defending and retaining control of key cities, and slowing Russia’s advance on Kyiv.
The U.S. Commerce Department, through its Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), has implemented a sweeping series of stringent export controls to severely restrict Russia’s access to technologies and other items that it needs to sustain its military capabilities.
Mandiant CEO Kevin Mandia was on CNBC Monday addressing cybersecurity concerns related to the crisis. Mandiant has created a task force and initiated a global event to track the escalating crisis.
Cybercriminals have enjoyed the protection of Russia for a long time, according to Mandiant. In addition, the Conti ransomware group has made some public statements about carrying out attacks on behalf of Russia.
Scroll through our slideshow above for more from Mandiant and other responses to the Ukrainian crisis.
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