Russian hackers temporarily disrupted several Belgian government websites, including those belonging to Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and the House of Representatives, on Tuesday. The hacker collective ‘NoName057(16)’ claimed responsibility for the attack, announcing via Telegram that they had “visited Belgium” and shut down several government websites. Their motivation reportedly stemmed from Belgium’s alleged financial support for Ukrainian President Zelensky’s regime, amidst rising tensions following Prime Minister De Croo’s summoning of the Russian ambassador over the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Despite the disruption, cybersecurity authorities characterized the incident as a “short-lived game of cat and mouse” lasting approximately two hours. Katrien Eggers, a spokeswoman for the Center for Cybersecurity, clarified that the websites were intermittently inaccessible during this period. Additionally, Eggers noted that websites previously targeted in cyberattacks often remain vulnerable to future attacks, highlighting the ongoing threat posed by hackers.
The attack underscores the persistent challenges faced by governments in defending against cyber threats and maintaining the security of their online infrastructure. Furthermore, it highlights the geopolitical tensions that can fuel such attacks, with hackers citing political motivations for their actions. While the disruption was relatively brief, it serves as a reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and ongoing vigilance to safeguard against potential cyber intrusions targeting critical government websites.
