Russian hackers attacked Austrian websites before the elections

Russian-backed hacker groups launched DDoS attacks on several websites in Austria ahead of parliamentary elections, causing short-term disruptions to government and financial resources.

According to the report, hacker groups NoName057(16) and OverFlame claimed responsibility for DDoS attacks on Austrian government websites, as well as on aviation, financial and stock exchange services. The attacks began last week and continue until today. The purpose of the attacks is to attract media attention and inconvenience users. Researchers at Radware noted that these attacks have not yet caused lasting damage, but they have affected more than 40 organizations.

The group NoName057(16) has been active since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, constantly attacking the resources of Kyiv and its allies. They use the DDoSia crowdsourcing project to carry out their attacks, where politically motivated hacktivists voluntarily install botnets on their computers to carry out attacks with the hope of financial rewards.

The attacks on Austrian websites are part of a wider cyber campaign supported by pro-Russian hackers aimed at destabilizing European countries. Although these attacks did not lead to serious consequences, they highlight the importance of cyber security during electoral processes.