Italy faced a third consecutive day of cyberattacks on Wednesday as the pro-Russian hacker group Noname057(16) launched another wave of DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks against key institutions. The latest assault targeted major banks, arms manufacturers, and public transport companies, causing disruptions across multiple sectors.
Among the affected entities were Mediobanca, Nexi, Benelli, Fiocchi, and Danieli, according to cybersecurity reports. The attacks followed a pattern similar to those carried out earlier in the week, which crippled the websites of several Italian ministries, law enforcement agencies—including the Carabinieri and Finance Police—as well as financial institutions, airports, and port authorities.
The Agency for National Cybersecurity swiftly intervened, alerting the impacted companies and working to restore services. While the full extent of the damage remains unclear, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
The cyber onslaught appears to be politically motivated. The hacker group linked its first attack on Monday to President Sergio Mattarella’s recent comparison of Russia to the Third Reich over its invasion of Ukraine. The remark sparked backlash from Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who warned that Mattarella’s words would not go “without consequences.”
Italy is now on high alert for further cyber threats, as geopolitical tensions continue to escalate.
Source: ANSA