Pro-Russian hackers arrested for cyberattacks in Spain
The arrests highlight the ongoing cyber threat faced by nations aligned with Ukraine and the cooperative efforts among NATO countries to counteract such destabilising actions.
Spanish police have arrested three pro-Russian hackers suspected of carrying out cyberattacks against Spain and other NATO countries. These attacks, allegedly for terrorist purposes, targeted public institutions and critical infrastructures in nations supporting Ukraine in the ongoing conflict with Russia. The suspects, whose identities have not been disclosed, were detained in Manacor, Huelva, and Seville.
The arrests are linked to the hacktivist group NoName057(16), active since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Civil Guard reported that the group’s manifesto acknowledges their intent to retaliate against Western actions perceived as anti-Russian. Police released footage showing a Soviet-era flag in one suspect’s home.
Investigations continue, with the suspects accused of orchestrating distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on web pages of government sectors and essential services. A reference can be made to Russian hackers accused of similar attacks on targets in Lithuania and Norway in 2022.
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