Computer hackers have attacked Italy’s social security website, forcing it to shut down on Wednesday just as people were starting to apply for coronavirus benefits, the head of the welfare agency said.
Computer hackers have attacked Italy’s social security website, forcing it to shut down on Wednesday just as people were starting to apply for coronavirus benefits, the head of the welfare agency said.
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The currently available official information is insufficient to make conclusions, though it seems that we are dealing with a DDoS attack. Notwithstanding that the website is already tremendously overloaded with legitimate users desperately seeking help among this unprecedentedly disastrous crisis. Hence, even a tiny botnet is now apt to substantially disrupt the website’s availability and performance.
The most dangerous scenario is, however, if a professional cyber gang is behind this disgraceful attack. They will likely exploit some weaknesses and architectural flaws of the web application to boost the amplitude of the DDoS, eventually expecting to get a ransom for stopping their activities. The victims are now between Scylla and Charybdis, as paying the ransom will be a signal to many other gangs about this low-hanging fruit, while refusing will prevent the most vulnerable people in need from getting timely help that is so necessary in these uncertain times. I hope DDoS protection companies will soon offer their help to the affected agencies, otherwise, we will see the first large-scale example when cybercriminals are factually taking human lives away.