Topline
A pro-Russian hacking group claimed credit for cyberattacks hitting more than a dozen U.S. airports’ websites Monday morning, according to multiple outlets, temporarily rendering parts of the sites inaccessible to the public, though the hacking did not result in any operational disruptions.
Travelers pass through the concourse at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Key Facts
Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the hacking group Killnet, which has promoted Kremlin viewpoints and previously engaged in cyberattacks targeting western nations but whose ties to the Russian government are unknown, according to CNN.
The attack resulted in an “inconvenience” for the public trying to access web domains with information on airport wait times and congestion, a senior official told ABC News.
The airports targeted include Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and New York’s LaGuardia Airport, while Chicago O’Hare International Airport as well as Los Angeles International Airport’s websites also appeared to be affected, according to multiple outlets.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said Monday it was monitoring the situation but that there were no concerns about airport operations, according to CNN.
In a post on Telegram, the group also claimed to hit airports in Idaho, Michigan, Hawaii, Massachusetts and other states.
Tangent
Killnet also claimed responsibility last week for disrupting state government websites in Colorado, Kentucky and Mississippi and other states.
Key Background
Killnet began its hacking activity in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine starting in February, claiming to target western nations that have imposed sanctions on the Kremlin for the war. The group primarily carries out distributed denial of service attacks, called DDoS, which aim to flood a site or server with fake web traffic to knock it offline, according to Bloomberg. The group has also carried out attacks across Europe, including targeting the Eurovision song contest. The group of hacktivists is also known for defacing websites targeted in their attacks with pro-Russian messages, according to Politico.
Further Reading
Cyberattacks reported at US airports (ABC News)
Meet Killnet, Russia’s hacking patriots plaguing Europe (Politico)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/madelinehalpert/2022/10/10/major-us-airport-websites-hit-with-suspected-russian-cyberattacks/