On October 8, 2024, several Belgian municipalities and ports experienced a significant cyber attack attributed to the pro-Russian hacker collective NoName057. This attack was the second within two days, targeting various local government websites, including those of Sint-Genesius-Rode and Linkebeek, as well as key port facilities in Antwerp and Zeebrugge. The incidents were reported to the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB), which confirmed that these cyber attacks employed Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) techniques, overwhelming the targeted servers with an excessive volume of requests. As a result, many of these websites became temporarily inaccessible to legitimate users.
According to the hackers’ Telegram channel, the motivation behind these cyber attacks stems from Belgium’s support for Ukraine. In a statement, NoName057 criticized the Belgian government’s planned transfer of three Caesar artillery units to Ukraine, declaring their intent to retaliate against what they labeled as “Russophobic” actions. The group indicated that their activities are a response to Belgium’s political stance and military support for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict, highlighting the interconnectedness of cyber warfare and geopolitical tensions.
The CCB emphasized that while the attacks have disrupted access to certain websites, they do not pose a significant threat to the security of the underlying systems. DDoS attacks are primarily designed to incapacitate services temporarily rather than to extract sensitive information or cause lasting damage. Nevertheless, the persistence of such attacks raises concerns about the broader implications for cybersecurity, especially as nations grapple with increasing cyber threats from hacktivist groups and state-sponsored actors.
As Belgium approaches its local elections on October 13, the threat of further disruptions looms large. The hackers hinted at additional attacks coinciding with the electoral process, which could undermine public confidence and disrupt the democratic exercise. This situation underscores the need for enhanced cybersecurity measures to protect vital infrastructure from malicious actors. The Belgian government must take these threats seriously to ensure the safety and integrity of its digital landscape, particularly during critical periods of civic engagement.
