The website of the British royal family experienced a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack yesterday morning, resulting in the site being temporarily taken offline. The attack was claimed by Russian hacker group KillNet, who announced their responsibility for the incident on their Telegram channel. Although the site was down for approximately 90 minutes, no unauthorized access was gained to the website, its systems, or its content, as reported by The Telegraph.
KillNet is a pro-Russian hacktivist group that has been active since at least January 2022. The group is known for launching DDoS campaigns specifically targeting countries that support Ukraine in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine war. The attack on the royal website occurred shortly after King Charles publicly condemned the invasion of Ukraine. In their claim of responsibility, KillNet asserted that the attack was directed towards “paedophiles,” accompanied by a picture of King Charles with the caption “they killed our website.”
This is not the first incident where KillNet has targeted high-profile websites. Last year, the European Parliament website was also hit by a cyberattack that was claimed by KillNet. The attack occurred shortly after lawmakers approved a resolution denouncing Moscow as a “state sponsor” of terrorism.
The UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) had previously issued a warning about the emergence of a new class of Russian cyber adversaries. These state-aligned groups, particularly those sympathetic to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, pose a significant threat to the cybersecurity of the UK. The NCSC alert emphasized that these groups have the potential to carry out “destructive and disruptive attacks” with consequences that are less predictable compared to traditional cybercriminals. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden cautioned businesses about Russia-linked cyberattack groups, emphasizing their intention to “destroy” the UK.
According to the NCSC, although these groups may align with Russia’s perceived interests, they often operate independently rather than under formal state control. This lack of formal control allows them to act with fewer constraints and target a broader range of entities compared to traditional cybercriminals. As a result, their actions are less predictable and pose a greater challenge for cybersecurity professionals.
The attack on the British royal family’s website serves as a reminder of the ongoing cyber threats faced by organizations and governments worldwide. As state-aligned hacking groups continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, it is imperative for businesses and governments to enhance their cybersecurity defenses and remain vigilant against potential attacks. The incident also highlights the need for international cooperation in combating cybercrime and ensuring a safe and secure digital environment for all.