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- Several government websites in Alabama have fallen victim to a denial-of-service cyberattack on Tuesday afternoon
- The attack has been attributed to a hacker group known as Anonymous Sudan
- Birmingham, a significant city in Alabama, has also been impacted by a separate cyber attack
The state of Alabama was the target of a cyberattack this Tuesday, resulting in the temporary shutdown of numerous government agency websites.
This attack, identified as a denial-of-service cyberattack, inundated the websites with fake traffic, causing them to go offline.
Among the primary victims were the Alabama Supercomputer Authority, the Office of Information Technology, and the State of Alabama itself.
Commencing on Tuesday afternoon, the attack kept the websites down for most of the day, with a gradual recovery process now underway. The Office of Information Technology team continues to address the issue, so users may experience slow site performance temporarily.
The disruptions initially affected a wide range of state services, but as we collaborated with our vendors to combat the denial-of-service attack, the impacts lessened throughout the day.Statement from Gov. Kay Ivey’s office
Fortunately, there have been no reported data breaches thus far, and it appears that all state computers and confidential information remained unaffected.
Identifying the Culprits
A well-known hacker group named Anonymous Sudan has claimed responsibility for the cyberattack, indicating their activist motives through a post on Telegram.
Describing themselves as hacktivists, the group leverages cyber attacks to highlight Sudan’s challenges and protest against the perceived US support for Israel. However, the connection between the Alabama attack and their cause remains unclear.
While the group’s origins remain unknown, speculation suggests Russian support and an anti-Western agenda.
Active in recent years, Anonymous Sudan strategically times its attacks for maximum impact, often publicizing their actions on social media.
Unlike other hacker groups, they do not shy away from the limelight, openly announcing their intentions, as demonstrated in this instance.
Secondary Cyberattack on Birmingham
Adding to Alabama’s woes, the city of Birmingham faces its own cyber challenges, impacting essential services such as taxation, permitting, licensing, and some police operations.
A recent statement from the City of Birmingham confirmed the attack’s effects, with no official updates since the incident.
Despite the establishment of a pioneering cybersecurity operations center in 2018 by Governor Kay Ivey, designed to mitigate cyber threats across all state agencies, the recent attacks have showcased vulnerabilities that need addressing.
The attacks, while not highly sophisticated, disrupt services and highlight the importance of cybersecurity measures to prevent future incidents.
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