Italy's foreign minister targeted in cyberattack due to Ukraine stance, minister says

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani disclosed on November 7 that cybercriminals had been leaking his personal data on the dark web for several days, targeting him and his family. Tajani emphasized in a statement on X, his social media platform, that he would not be intimidated by these actions. As Italy's deputy prime minister, Tajani noted that his targeted status was likely due to the country's ongoing support for Ukraine.

"Defending the freedom of a sovereign state, fighting in a clear way in favor of democracy and the independence of a nation is dangerous for such a criminal entity," Tajani added. The attack was also seen as a reaction to Italy's efforts to enhance the cybersecurity of its foreign ministry. Since January 1st, a dedicated cyber directorate has been in place to safeguard Italy's foreign ministry against intrusions, many of which are reportedly linked to hostile entities, including pro-Russian hackers.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her full support for Tajani, linking the cyberattack to pro-Russian hackers. Meloni called for a determined response to the sale of confidential information on institutional figures. On November 1st, Ukraine's air raid alert system was hacked, leading to false alerts about nuclear, chemical, and street fighting threats across the country.

The Kyiv Independent, a news outlet, also suffered a cyberattack on November 4th, disrupting its website and tricking some readers into receiving emails with fake claims in Russian and English, implying a Russian operation.