Sweden experienced a surge in distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks as it moved towards joining NATO [1], with attacks intensifying in late 2023 and peaking in March 2024 [1].
Description
NetScout recorded a significant increase in attack volume in February 2024 [1], with 1524 simultaneous attacks on Swedish organizations following a statement from Sweden’s Foreign Minister regarding Hungary’s approval of their NATO bid [1]. The attacks were attributed to politically motivated hacker groups [1], including NoName057 [1], Anonymous Sudan [1], Russian Cyber Army Team [1], and Killnet [1]. The attacks targeted not only Sweden but also other countries such as the US and Ukraine [2]. The peak of 2275 attacks was recorded on March 4, 2024 [1], just three days before Sweden officially joined NATO [1] [2].
Conclusion
These politically motivated DDoS attacks have highlighted the vulnerability of countries transitioning towards joining international alliances. It is crucial for governments to enhance their cybersecurity measures to mitigate the impact of such attacks in the future. The collaboration between countries in addressing cyber threats is essential to ensure the security and stability of the digital landscape.
References
[1] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/nato-sweden-surge-ddos-attacks/
[2] https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-russia-war-latest-large-fire-erupts-in-port-city-after-missile-strike-drone-attacks-damage-russian-energy-infrastructure-12541713
