The recent arrest of Pavel Durov, founder of the Telegram messaging app, by French authorities has sparked a significant wave of cyberattacks from various hacktivist groups. These groups, primarily aligned with pro-Russian and pro-Islamic ideologies, have banded together under the banner of the #FreeDurov campaign. The cyberattacks focus on distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, disrupting operations across over 50 French organizations, all demanding Durov’s immediate release.
Key Hacktivist Groups Behind #FreeDurov
Prominent groups driving this cyber campaign include the Cyber Army of Russia Reborn (CARR), RipperSec, EvilWeb, CyberDragon, UserSec, and STUCX Team. These hacktivists are utilizing their collective expertise to disrupt French websites, targeting various sectors, including government agencies, healthcare services, airports, educational institutions, and private companies.
CARR, known for its close connections to Russia’s military intelligence, has been particularly active. With a following of over 62,000 members on Telegram, CARR has attacked several high-profile targets such as the Council of Europe and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS).
Another key player, RipperSec, originating from Malaysia, is using its proprietary DDoS tool called “MegaMedusa.” This tool has been instrumental in launching attacks on multiple French entities, including the French Ministry of Justice and the French National Police.
DDoS Attacks Widen Across French Infrastructure
Groups such as EvilWeb and CyberDragon have also joined the campaign, combining DDoS attacks with hacking techniques to breach French organizations. Their exploits are proudly shared on their Telegram channels, with some hackers claiming to have compromised sensitive data from targeted institutions. This escalation highlights the increasing coordination among international cybercriminal networks.
Emerging Threats: Heightened Cyber Vigilance Needed
This growing cyber threat underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity defenses, particularly against coordinated DDoS attacks. French organizations should remain on high alert, as the #FreeDurov campaign continues to evolve. Experts advise that implementing stronger network protection measures and rapid incident response plans can mitigate the impact of such attacks.
