What is the connection between an Egyptian hacker and the hacker groups implicated in the “X” attack?

Cyber Attack on “X” Platform and Responsibility of “Dark Storm” Group

Elon Musk’s “X” platform was targeted by a cyber attack on Monday, causing a widespread service outage. In an interview with Fox News, Musk confirmed that he managed to trace the attackers and obtained their associated IP addresses, which were traced back to Ukraine. However, a hacker group named “Dark Storm” later claimed responsibility for the attack on Telegram, but the post was deleted shortly after. The group stated that the attack was part of their operations against systems supporting Israel.

Who is the “Dark Storm” Group?

The “Dark Storm” group was founded in 2023 and is known for its cyberattacks against governments and companies that support Israel. According to research by the cybersecurity firm “Check Point,” this group carries out advanced attacks, including Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, particularly targeting government communications and NATO. Additionally, “SecurityScorecard” reported that “Dark Storm” has targeted Israeli hospitals, U.S. airports, and other critical infrastructure sites. The group does not demand ransom but focuses on political motivations.

In one of their posts, the group declared that they would target any country that supports the “occupying entity,” referring to Israel.

The Ukraine Connection and Controversy Surrounding the Attack

Although Elon Musk linked the attack to Ukrainian IP addresses, this claim has sparked significant controversy. A hacker group associated with “Dark Storm” denied any connection to Ukraine, calling Musk’s statements “baseless accusations.” Cybersecurity experts also questioned Musk’s assertions, noting that DDoS attacks are typically distributed across multiple locations, making it unlikely for the attack to originate from a single source.

In the investigation, no other group claimed responsibility for the attack except “Dark Storm.”

New Investigation Reveals Arab Hacker’s Involvement in the Attack

In a new development, Baptiste Robert, CEO of “Predicta Labs,” shared fresh findings from the investigation into the attack on the “X” platform. According to his report, one of the attackers was identified as a hacker, believed to be involved in the cyber assault, named Mohamed Hany, an engineering student from Giza, Egypt. Robert discovered Hany’s social media accounts and Telegram group memberships related to DDoS services.

The investigation also revealed that Hany had been looking to join a team for cyberattacks via Telegram channels while aligning himself with a Russian hacker group that supports specific political views against Israel.

Conclusion

The cyber attack on “X” and Musk’s claims regarding its ties to Ukraine remain highly controversial, with “Dark Storm” appearing to be the primary suspect. Meanwhile, new investigations reveal the potential involvement of an Arab hacker in the attack, shedding light on the geopolitical and regional overlaps in complex cyber attacks.

Sources:

• Sky News
• SecurityScorecard
• Check Point
• CyberNews