Killnet hacked critical gov sites in Italy

Pro-Russian hacktivists have hacked the sites of various Italian institutions and government ministries, law enforcement.

The attack, which began on May 19 evening and was still in progress, was reportedly confirmed by Italy’s Postal Police.

The massive hacker attack was launched at around 20:00 GMT on May 19 by the hacker group "Killnet," Italian cyber-security group Yarix said in a statement.

Among the approximately 50 institutions reportedly hit are Italy’s superior council of the judiciary, its customs agency, and its foreign affairs, education and cultural heritage ministries.

On May 20, shortly before 12pm GMT, Italy’s embassy in London tweeted that the websites of the country’s foreign ministry and all its embassies had been hit and were currently inoperable:

Killnet also launched attacks in early May targeting Italy’s upper house of parliament, the National Health Institute (ISS) and the Automobile Club d’Italia.

Earlier Killnet hackers have announced global cyber attacks against a number of countries - including the UK - for standing up to Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.