Russian and Ukrainian hackers hijack emergency apps to spread fake nuclear attack warnings

Overnight, Russian and Ukrainian emergency warning apps were hacked, according to authorities in both countries. The malicious actors posted false messages on the apps, claiming nuclear and chemical threats in Ukraine, as well as a deployment of Russia's hypersonic Oreshnik missile. However, the fake alerts appear to have little impact on civilians, who instead began creating humorous memes about the situation.

In Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force denied the claims, stating that there was no radiation threat and urging the public to remain calm. The Ukrainian team responsible for the app stated they were restoring it, improving security measures to prevent future incidents. In Russia, the Emercom's mobile app also fell victim to a "massive cyberattack," spreading false information to 33 regions that claimed nuclear warheads had been launched.

The ministry later confirmed the app was working again and attributed the breach to a vulnerability. Russian officials downplayed the incident, acknowledging the growing threat of cyberattacks as technology evolves. Despite the false warnings, few people seem to have been fooled by the messages, and some even expressed distrust towards official warnings after the incident.