A massive global outage hit X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, affecting over 40,000 users worldwide. The outage lasted for several hours before the platform was restored. Pro-Palestinian hacking group Dark Storm has claimed responsibility for the attack, which X CEO Elon Musk described as a “massive cyberattack.”
“It was done with a lot of resources,” Musk wrote on X, suggesting that “either a large, coordinated group and/or a country is involved.”
Who Are Dark Storm?
Dark Storm Team is a pro-Palestinian hacktivist group known for targeting entities they perceive as supporters of Israel. Their activities primarily involve Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks and other forms of cyber warfare. The group targets governments, infrastructure, and organizations aligned with Israeli interests.
Beyond ideological motives, Dark Storm is also financially motivated. The group reportedly sells cyberattack services, including DDoS attacks and database breaches, through its Telegram channel.
Dark Storm’s Activities
- Threats Against NATO and Allies
In February 2024, Dark Storm issued threats against NATO countries, Israel, and nations supporting Israel. The group warned of cyberattacks aimed at disrupting critical services and government websites. - Collaboration with Pro-Russian Entities
Reports suggest that Dark Storm has collaborated with pro-Russian hacktivist organizations to expand its reach. Their activities include selling hacking tools and services through underground platforms. - Targeting US Infrastructure
In October 2024, Dark Storm claimed responsibility for a DDoS attack on John F Kennedy International Airport in New York. The group cited the airport’s perceived support for Israel as the reason behind the attack.
How Did Dark Storm Attack X?
Cybersecurity experts identified the attack on X as a multi-layered DDoS attack. Hackers flooded X’s servers with an overwhelming volume of fake requests, which crippled the platform’s ability to function.
The attack involved a botnet—a network of hijacked devices, including compromised personal computers, smart cameras, and routers. These devices, controlled remotely by the hackers, sustained the attack and made it harder for X’s security systems to stop it.
This wasn’t a typical DDoS attack; the sophisticated use of compromised devices suggests significant planning and coordination.
X’s Response and Ongoing Investigation
X has yet to confirm whether Dark Storm was behind the attack. The company’s cybersecurity team is currently investigating the breach and working to strengthen platform security.
Meanwhile, experts have warned that the attack on X may signal a new wave of large-scale cyberattacks targeting major social media platforms and online services.
Growing Cybersecurity Concerns
Dark Storm’s alleged involvement raises concerns about the increasing scale and complexity of cyberattacks linked to geopolitical conflicts. With tensions rising in the Middle East, cybersecurity experts warn that more such attacks could target critical infrastructure and global tech platforms in the near future.
