The hacking group Phoenix has claimed responsibility for a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack on the website of the US Congress. The hacker group posted a message asserting that the congressional website had been disabled, specifically targeting pages related to lobbying and online reporting in the United States.
The threat actor posted their claims on their dark web channel. “The website of the US Congress has been disabled. The page provides information about Lobbying in the United States and online reporting,” reads the hacker message.
Phoenix’s DDoS Attack on US Congress Website
Surprisingly, upon attempting to access the site, it was found to be fully functional, casting doubt on the authenticity of Phoenix’s DDoS attack claim. Despite efforts to reach out to officials for clarification, The Cyber Express team has not received any response at the time of writing this report.
If proven true, the implications of such a US Congress website cyberattack on a critical government institution could be far-reaching. The motive behind targeting US government sites and organizations remains unclear, raising concerns about the potential vulnerabilities in the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure.
US Government Websites on Target
In a related incident, the Snatch ransomware group has asserted a data leak involving the US President. The group claims to have leaked Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and other data related to President Joe Biden, his son Hunter Biden, and First Lady Jill Biden.
The authenticity of this data leak is currently in question, as the White House has yet to issue an official statement regarding the alleged cyberattack on the 46th President of the United States.
Further complicating the cybersecurity landscape, the US branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), one of the world’s largest banks, has fallen victim to a major ransomware attack.
The ICBC cyberattack believed to be orchestrated by the LockBit ransomware gang, poses a significant threat to the stability of international finance. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association has alerted its members about the ransomware attack on ICBC Financial Services, forcing clients to alter their trade routes to mitigate potential risks.
Adding to the string of cyber threats, the Russian-speaking BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware group has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Ultra Intelligence and Communications, a US-based company specializing in intelligence and communication technologies. The ransomware group disclosed its alleged involvement in a dark web post, identifying Ultra Intelligence and Communications as its victim.
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