As an analyst with over two decades of experience in cybersecurity and digital forensics, I find myself increasingly alarmed by the escalating tensions between technology giants, governments, and hacker groups. The recent DDoS attacks on several French government websites, allegedly in retaliation for Pavel Durov’s arrest, is a stark reminder of the power that cyber weapons wield in today’s digital landscape.
Multiple French government sites are currently down because of a Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack, which is allegedly linked to various hacker collectives as a response to the recent detention of Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, over the weekend.
39-year-old executive was apprehended on a warrant accusing his business of being implicated in money laundering, narcotics trading, illicit activities such as terrorism backing. At present, no official accusations have been filed against him.
DDoS Attacks on French Websites
Cybersecurity professional Clément Domingo, also known by his alias SaxX, revealed information about ten sites targeted in DDoS attacks as part of ‘opDurov.’ He posted images displaying four affected websites, including:
SaxX pointed out that these incidents appeared to consist solely of Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) disturbances, and not data thefts through breaches or ransomware attacks.
It’s believed that a group of hackers speaking Russian, like the Russian Army Cyber Team, have admitted to being involved in certain cyber-attacks. Additionally, a hacker collective based in Malaysia, RipperSec (a pro-Palestinian group), is said to have participated as well, launching attacks on numerous French universities and educational institutions.
On August 24, Durov jetted off from Azerbaijan to France. He touched down at Le Bourget airport, situated north of Paris, in a private aircraft. Upon arrival, he was taken into custody by local authorities. French investigators revealed on August 26 that Durov might be detained until August 28 for interrogation regarding alleged crimes linked to an unidentified individual who utilized the platform.
By August 27th, no official accusations had been made against him, and there was no proven illegal activity attributed to him.
Durov’s detention has faced strong criticism, with numerous individuals criticizing French authorities. Notable tech figures like Elon Musk (Tesla CEO), Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum founder), and Gabor Gurbacs (former VanEck digital asset strategy director) are among those who have expressed disapproval of the arrest. They view this action as a violation of fundamental human rights, specifically the right to freedom of speech and association.
Macron on Durov Arrest
In response to concerns over “rumors” about infringements on freedom of speech in X, French President Emmanuel Macron explained that the detention of Durov was linked to an ongoing legal probe.
He even stressed that it was not a political decision but rather a matter for the judiciary to handle independently.
“In a nation where the law prevails, individual liberties are safeguarded within a system of legal boundaries, whether online or offline, to secure citizens and honor their basic rights. The judiciary, maintaining its autonomy, is responsible for enforcing these laws. The apprehension of the Telegram president on French territory was carried out in relation to an ongoing judicial inquiry, which has no political implications whatsoever. It’s now the judges who will decide on this matter.”
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2024-08-27 14:12