Spain arrests 3 hackers for alleged involvement in cyberattacks against NATO countries
A man types into a keyboard during the Def Con hacker convention in Las Vegas, US. (Reuters)
Spanish authorities have arrested three hackers for their alleged involvement in cyberattacks against Spain and other NATO countries, targeting public institutions and strategic sectors, according to the Spanish Civil Guard.
Cyberattack targets
The suspects, whose identities have not been disclosed, were detained in connection with distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. These cyberattacks allegedly targeted web pages of public and private organizations within government sectors, critical infrastructures, and essential services.
The arrests occurred in Manacor on the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Huelva, and Seville in southern Spain. Police released a video of a raid on social media platform X, showcasing a Soviet-era hammer and sickle flag and an ANTIFA flag mounted on a wall in one suspect’s home.
Hacktivist group involvement
The Civil Guard stated that the hackers were associated with the hacktivist group NoName057(16), which emerged following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The group has been one of the most active in carrying out cyberattacks.
In their founding manifesto, NoName057(16) declared they would “respond proportionately to the hostile and openly anti-Russian actions of Western Russophobes.” The investigation into the cyberattacks is ongoing.
