Bulgaria was the center of the USSR's computer industry and manufactured the first socialist PC, the Pravets. Moscow charged the DS (Bulgaria's KGB) with stealing advanced technologies from the West during that period of time. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria's computer industry was privatized as the Memory Disks Equipment Company but was controlled and even staffed by the Military Counter Intelligence unit of the DS.
Even though Bulgaria was no longer "communist" after the dissolution of the USSR, the communist security and intelligence apparatus remained intact and in control of critical industries, and most importantly, retained their relationships with the KGB (FSB+SVR).
It's no surprise that Russia is using Bulgarians to conduct cyber espionage in the UK and elsewhere. The Eastern European criminal underworld are third-party contractors (often indirectly controlled by their respective IC's) that function as deniable assets and have legacy relationships with Russia. In summary, Bulgaria has a deep pool of tech talent that has been repeatedly contracted for cyber espionage by Russia for decades.
Bulgaria was the center of the USSR's computer industry and manufactured the first socialist PC, the Pravets. Moscow charged the DS (Bulgaria's KGB) with stealing advanced technologies from the West during that period of time. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria's computer industry was privatized as the Memory Disks Equipment Company but was controlled and even staffed by the Military Counter Intelligence unit of the DS.
Even though Bulgaria was no longer "communist" after the dissolution of the USSR, the communist security and intelligence apparatus remained intact and in control of critical industries, and most importantly, retained their relationships with the KGB (FSB+SVR).
It's no surprise that Russia is using Bulgarians to conduct cyber espionage in the UK and elsewhere. The Eastern European criminal underworld are third-party contractors (often indirectly controlled by their respective IC's) that function as deniable assets and have legacy relationships with Russia. In summary, Bulgaria has a deep pool of tech talent that has been repeatedly contracted for cyber espionage by Russia for decades.
Thank you for this analysis, Kyle. Much here that I was not aware of but will keep in mind moving forward.
very interesting reporting. thank you
Thanks Larry!