Italy foreign minister says he has been targeted by pro-Russian hackers over Ukraine backing
The Italian foreign minister said hackers were seeking more information about him and his family, and linked the leak to Rome’s support for Ukraine.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on Saturday that his personal data was published online by pro-Russian hackers, claiming their actions were linked to his government's backing of Ukraine. Tajani, also serving as deputy prime minister, stated on X that his support for Ukraine's freedom and independence had led to his targeting.
The hackers were reportedly seeking additional information about him and his family, and were willing to pay for it. The attacks were also seen as a reaction to the Foreign Ministry's recent efforts to enhance cybersecurity.
Screenshots of the dark web, viewed by Reuters, revealed Tajani's image on a list of 18 individuals perceived as hostile to the Russian Federation, including cybersecurity experts. The material was discovered during monitoring by cybersecurity authorities on the Tor network, and further investigations are currently underway.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a vocal supporter of Ukraine among Western leaders, voiced her backing of Tajani and labeled the sale of confidential information on public officials as "a matter of serious concern." Russia has remained silent on the incident, consistently denying any involvement in cyberattacks or hacking operations abroad.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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