Italy’s institutional websites targeted by pro-Russian hackers

Pro-Russian hackers have attacked the websites of several Italian institutions, including the Senate, according to ANSA news agency this week.

The hacker group “Killnet” claimed the attack, ANSA stated, which also targeted the National Health Institute (ISS) and the Automobile Club d’Italia, a national drivers’ association.

According to a Reuters report, the websites of the Senate, Italy’s upper house of Parliament, and the ISS were back online at 8:00pm (1800 GMT). However, an hour earlier, both sites had been impossible to access.

Senate Speaker Elisabetta Casellati confirmed that the hacker attack had not caused any damage in a Twitter post.

“These are serious incidents, which should not be underestimated,” Casellati wrote.

The defence ministry, whose website was not available, said in a statement this was “due to long-planned maintenance activities ongoing on the website”.

A source at the Italian cyber security agency told Reuters they were working with the affected administrations to restore the websites, suggesting “the first appropriate technical countermeasures”.

Police made no further comment other than confirming an investigation was ongoing.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February, many Western governments have raised alert levels in anticipation of possible cyber attacks on IT systems and infrastructure.

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Late in March, Italian railway company Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS) temporarily halted some ticket sale services fearing it had been targeted by a cyber attack.

In April, the ecology transition ministry said it had to shut down all its IT systems due to external threats.

[Reference:Cyber security accountability precedent set after ASIC v RI Advice]