Italy Blames Russia-Linked Hackers for Cyberattacks Ahead of Winter Olympics
Italy Blames Russia-Linked Hackers for Cyberattacks Ahead of Winter Olympics
Italy has successfully thwarted a series of cyberattacks of Russian origin targeting diplomatic missions abroad and sites linked to the upcoming Winter Olympics. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani revealed on Wednesday that these attempted attacks affected multiple foreign ministry offices, starting with Washington, as well as facilities connected to the 2026 Winter Games, including hotels in the beautiful Alpine resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo. 🌍🏅
According to reports from France 24, approximately 120 targets were impacted, including consulates in Sydney, Toronto, and Paris, alongside hotels where winter sports athletes are staying. Fortunately, the attacks did not cause significant disruption. 🙌
The pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16) claimed responsibility for these attacks, stating that they were a form of retaliation for Italy’s support of Ukraine. They declared, “The Italian government’s pro-Ukrainian policy means that support for Ukrainian terrorists is punished with our DDoS attacks,” on their Telegram channel. This group, which emerged shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has primarily targeted European countries that support Kyiv, including Poland, Czechia, Lithuania, and Italy. 💻⚔️
Historically, Russia-linked hackers have targeted nations hosting major sporting events. For instance, during the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the Russian state-sponsored hacking group Sandworm disrupted the Games’ IT infrastructure using malware in a false-flag operation designed to implicate North Korean and Chinese actors. In another incident, the Kremlin-backed group Fancy Bear breached the World Anti-Doping Agency in 2016, leaking athletes’ medical data to undermine regulators investigating the Russian doping scandal. 🏆🚨
As we approach the 2024 Summer Olympics, authorities and researchers in France have already reported an increase in cyber and disinformation activities originating from Russia.