Pro-Russian hackers have targeted around 20 Italian websites, including those of banks and airports, in a cyberattack linked to growing tensions between Rome and Moscow.
Italy’s cybersecurity agency confirmed on Monday that the hacker group Noname057(16) was behind the attack, which affected websites such as Intesa Sanpaolo, Banca Monte dei Paschi, Iccrea Banca, and Milan’s Linate and Malpensa airports.
Despite the attacks, no significant disruptions were reported, Reuters reports.
The cyberattack follows a speech earlier this month by Italian President Sergio Mattarella, in which he compared Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the expansionist ambitions of Nazi Germany before World War II.
Moscow expressed outrage over his comments, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended Mattarella’s remarks.
The cybersecurity agency stated that the hackers were motivated by these comments when launching the attack.
While Intesa Sanpaolo and SEA, which manages Milan’s airports, declined to comment, a spokesperson for Iccrea Banca confirmed that there had been no disruptions.
Banca Monte dei Paschi did not respond to a request for comment.
Noname057(16) had previously claimed responsibility for another cyberattack on Italy in December 2023, targeting multiple institutional websites.
