In a new series of cyber attacks, the infamous NoName hacker group set its sights on Spain, targeting multiple government institutions across the country.
The group is threatening post claimed responsibility for launching a cyber attack on Spain, with key targets including the city council portal of San Fernando de Henares, the Madrid Metro Ligero Oeste website, the Sede electrónica del Ministerio del Interior website, and the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium’s website.
To learn more about the alleged cyber attack on Spain, The Cyber Express attempted to contact the affected agencies. However, at the time of writing this, the websites most of these institutions were rendered inaccessible due to the ongoing cyber attack on Spain.
The cyber attack’s impact on Spain was evident through the myriad connection timeout errors displayed by the targeted websites, leaving them nonfunctional at the front end.
This further hindered any attempts to reach these institutions for more information, given the extent of the disruption caused by the cyber attack on Spain.
Cyber attack on Spain: A well-planned strike
Compounding the severity of the situation, the cyber attacks on Spain coincided with the country’s election day, adding a layer of suspicion to the series of cyber attacks.
According to reports, the attack is believed to be linked to the Russian intelligence services.
On the Sunday of Spain’s election day, the website of the Ministry of the Interior fell victim to the hackers, causing it to remain offline from approximately 4 pm until 7:45 pm.
Authorities have taken the matter seriously, with specialized investigators from the National Police and the National Intelligence Centre (CNI) focused on delving into the intricacies of the cybersecurity breach.
While focusing on the cyber attack on Spain, NoName’s reach extended beyond the country’s borders.
Previously, the threat actor targeted the website of Raiffeisen Bank in Poland, leading to the bank’s official website being temporarily shut down.
The hacker collective proudly declared their action in an online post, urging others to join their Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) project, culminating with a resolute message of “Victory will be ours!”
NoName hacker groups target several companies
In the last few weeks, NoName hacker group has been implicated in other cyber attacks, including those on the websites of Warsaw Metro, Bank Pekao S.A., and PKO Bank Polski.
They also claimed responsibility for compromising PFR Ventures, a major fund investor in Central and Eastern Europe. However, the authenticity of these claims remains unverified.
Moreover, the recent cyber attack on Spain orchestrated by the NoName hacker group underscores the pressing need for enhanced cybersecurity measures in Spain and across the globe.
The cyber attack on Spain is just one of the assaults that are currently casting a dark shadow of uncertainty on the business world.
“The administrators of the group as well as the community are very active,” said a threat assessment by cybersecurity business Sekoia.
“They were notably observed conducting DDoS attacks against European, Ukrainian, and U.S. websites of government agencies, media, and private companies. Regularly, the group posts messages claiming successful attacks.”
The report concludes that the hacktivist group NoName057(16), with strong ties to the Kremlin, predominantly targets Ukraine and NATO countries, particularly those in the Eastern Flank such as Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, and Latvia.
This focus is likely motivated by the vocal opposition of these countries against Russia, their pro-Ukrainian stance, and their provision of military support and capabilities.
This is an ongoing story, and The Cyber Express will continue to monitor this alleged cyber attack on Spain and will update this post with new information.
Media Disclaimer: This report is based on internal and external research obtained through various means. The information provided is for reference purposes only, and users bear full responsibility for their reliance on it. The Cyber Express assumes no liability for the accuracy or consequences of using this information.