Cybersecurity has become a growing concern across Europe as politically motivated attacks escalate.
This morning, Italy faced a fresh wave of digital assaults targeting key institutions.
While no significant disruptions to critical infrastructure occurred, the incident highlights the vulnerabilities of modern systems in times of geopolitical tension.
Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the websites for Milan’s Malpensa and Linate airports were disrupted by denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks early today.
Hacker Group Takes Responsibility
The cyberattacks temporarily disabled public-facing websites but did not interfere with flight operations or core systems, according to the National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN).
DDoS attacks work by overwhelming a server with excessive traffic, causing websites to crash, according to Digi24.
The attacks did not affect internal systems or airline-specific applications, ACN confirmed.
The websites were taken offline briefly but were restored after security measures were implemented.
Pro-Russian hacking group NoName057(16) claimed responsibility for the attacks. In a statement posted on their Telegram channel, they described their actions as a “well-deserved cyber response for Russophobes.” The group has been linked to numerous cyberattacks across Europe since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, targeting nations that support Kyiv.
The ACN stated that such cyberattacks are intended to disrupt Western nations’ support for Ukraine. This latest incident follows Italy’s recent decision to extend military aid to Ukraine until 2025.
On December 24, the Italian government approved a decree ensuring continued military assistance to Ukraine. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has firmly supported Kyiv since taking office in late 2022, pledging unwavering aid until the conflict ends.
The timing of the cyberattacks appears to coincide with Italy’s renewed commitment to Ukraine, highlighting the geopolitical motivations behind the assault.
