Italian police are investigating a series of cyberattacks, claimed by the pro-Russian group NoName057(16). The attacks targeted several websites, including those of Milan’s airports and the foreign ministry.
The attacks, reported on 28 December, also disrupted the transport systems in Siena and Turin, according to Italy’s national cybersecurity police. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed this was the third attack on the ministry within three days.
“Today’s attack is certainly of Russian origin,” Tajani told journalists. He announced the creation of a new cybersecurity and artificial intelligence department within the foreign ministry and said security measures would be further strengthened at Italy’s embassies.
In 2022, Italy saw an increase in attacks by Russian hackers.
Targets and Impact
The hacker group claimed responsibility for the cyberattacks via a Telegram post, according to cybersecurity police spokesperson Marco Valerio Cervellini. The NoName057(16) group is known for targeting public institutions and critical sectors in NATO countries supporting Ukraine.
The websites of Milan’s Linate and Malpensa airports were affected, but flights remained unaffected, and mobile apps functioned normally, confirmed a spokesperson for SEA, the airports’ operator. The portals of Siena Mobilità, Gruppo Trasporti Torino, and Federtrasporto were also hit, alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
In their Telegram channel, the alleged hackers wrote, “Italian Russophobes are receiving a deserved cyber response,” listing the websites they had targeted.
Widespread Threats
Ivano Gabrielli, director of Italy’s postal police, highlighted the coordinated nature of these attacks. “We have been registering attacks of this type on various infrastructures and ministerial sites for three days,” he told AdnKronos. “These are attacks cyclically carried out by groups that support the Russian war on Ukrainian soil.”
The Italian government continues to raise its cybersecurity defences. It faces increasing threats from groups aligned with Russia’s interests in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
