In a bold move, a hacking group known as Anonymous Sudan targeted X, formerly known as Twitter, in order to pressure Elon Musk into launching his Starlink service in Sudan. This cyber-attack resulted in X being offline for more than two hours, affecting thousands of users worldwide. The group took to Telegram to spread their message to Elon Musk, demanding the opening of Starlink in Sudan. This incident sheds light on the pressing issue of internet accessibility in Sudan, particularly amidst the ongoing civil war. While X has not addressed the disruption caused by the attack, Elon Musk has yet to respond to the hackers’ request.
The hacking group, Anonymous Sudan, is known for its relatively unsophisticated hacking techniques, often resorting to DDoS attacks to flood servers with traffic. The outage-tracking site Downdetector reported nearly 20,000 outage reports during the attack, affecting users in the US and the UK. The attack aimed to raise awareness about Sudan’s civil war, which frequently disrupts internet access for Sudanese citizens. However, the connection between Anonymous Sudan and Russia has raised suspicions in the cyber-security world, with some speculating that the group may be a Russian cyber-military unit masquerading as a hacktivist outfit. While the group denies these allegations, evidence was provided to the BBC suggesting that the hackers are located in Sudan.
Crush, the main spokesperson for Anonymous Sudan, emphasized the long-term goal of showcasing the skills and capabilities of the Sudanese people. Despite limited resources and frequent internet outages, Crush affirmed that the group consists of a small number of Sudanese hackers launching attacks against various organizations and governments globally. Past targets have included France, Nigeria, Israel, the US, and Kenya, with Anonymous Sudan claiming that the Kenyan government has been interfering in Sudanese affairs.
While the group justifies their attacks as a means to defend Islam, Sudan, and the truth, their actions have often crossed ethical boundaries. In addition to attempting to extort victims for Bitcoin, they have targeted websites like OnlyFans, Tumblr, and Reddit, criticizing them for promoting what they deem “disgusting smut” and LGBTQ+ content. Their attacks have not been limited to online platforms, as they have also targeted hospitals, albeit unsuccessfully.
This incident highlights the need to address the internet accessibility disparities in Sudan, especially in the midst of a civil war. It underscores the importance of international cooperation and support to ensure that citizens have reliable and uninterrupted access to the internet. Additionally, the incident raises questions about the motivations and affiliations of Anonymous Sudan, emphasizing the need for vigilance in identifying and countering cyber threats.
