- Cyberattack focusing on Winter Olympics reportedly blocked
- Italy says the assault was “of Russian origin”
- La Sapienza College in Rome additionally hit by an assault
The Italian authorities has claimed a collection of cyberattacks of “Russian origin” have been blocked from focusing on the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
Overseas Minister Antonio Tajani mentioned the assault hit services linked to the 2026 Winter Video games, together with lodges within the Alpine resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo the place atheltes have been staying.
The wide-ranging assault reportedly hit round 120 targets, together with international ministry places of work within the US, in addition to consulates in Sydney, Toronto and Paris, and La Sapienza college in Rome was additionally hit in a seemingly separate assault additionally attributed to Russian-linked hackers.
“Sequence of cyberattacks”
“We prevented a collection of cyberattacks towards international ministry websites, beginning with Washington, and likewise involving some Winter Olympics websites, together with lodges in Cortina,” Tajani famous, including that no important disruption was precipitated.
The assault was claimed by pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16) claimed accountability, describing the marketing campaign as retaliation for Italy’s assist for Ukraine.
“The Italian authorities’s pro-Ukrainian coverage implies that assist for Ukrainian terrorists is punished with our DDoS assaults,” the group mentioned on Telegram.
Russia is at present banned from competing on the Summer season and Winter Olympics following its invasion of Ukraine, though some Russian-born athletes have been cleared to compete as impartial representatives, with no flags.
La Sapienza is likely one of the largest universities in Europe, with round 120,000 college students. Following the suspected assault, it took down its web site and different associated laptop programs, and is now attempting to revive entry utilizing unaffected backups.
In a latest put up and in tales on Instagram, the college mentioned it took down its programs out of precaution for what was apparently a ransomware assault.
“As a precautionary measure, and with a view to make sure the integrity and safety of information, a direct shutdown of community programs has been ordered,” the group mentioned.
It added an investigation is happening, and a few communication channels corresponding to electronic mail and workstations are “partially restricted”, with momentary “infopoints” arrange for college students to offer info accessible by means of digital programs and databases which might be at present unavailable.
By way of AP and BleepingComputer
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