Cyber Group NoName Launches ‘OpBelgium’ Attack on Belgian Sites

Pro-Russian Hackers Launch Massive Cyber Campaign Against Belgian Institutions

The pro-Russian hacking group NoName has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on multiple Belgian websites under the campaign dubbed “OpBelgium”.

This latest offensive comes as part of the group’s ongoing efforts to target countries supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

Wave of DDoS Attacks Hits Belgian Infrastructure

According to the post fromFalconFeeds.io, the attacks, primarily in the form of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), have targeted a wide range of Belgian institutions, including government bodies, energy providers, and research organizations.

Among the affected entities are the Parliament of Wallonia, ENGIE Electrabel’s Nuclear Power Plant Doel, the National Social Security Office, citydev.brussels, the Brussels Institute of Statistics and Analysis, the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, the Centre for European Policy Studies, the International Centre of Research and Information on the Public, Social and Cooperative Economy (CIRIEC).

These DDoS attacks work by overwhelming servers with an astronomical number of requests, effectively paralyzing them and rendering the websites inaccessible to legitimate users.

While DDoS attacks are considered relatively harmless in terms of data theft, they can cause significant disruptions to services and operations.

Belgium’s Cybersecurity Response and Ongoing Threats

The Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB) has been at the forefront of responding to these attacks.

CCB spokesperson Katrien Eggers stated, “The collective announces its attacks in advance on its website. We have contacted the victims so they can implement anti-DDoS measures”.

This proactive approach has helped mitigate some of the impacts, with many affected sites being restored within hours of the initial attack.

However, the threat remains ongoing. NoName has been carrying out attacks on websites in countries supporting Ukraine since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict more than two and a half years ago.

The group’s recent focus on Belgium is believed to be in response to the country’s decision to purchase Caesar guns for donation to Ukraine.

The timing of these attacks is particularly concerning, as Belgium prepares for municipal and provincial elections scheduled for the upcoming Sunday.

While Flemish interior minister Hilde Crevits has assured that the cyber-attacks pose no threat to the elections, stating that “Voting computers are not connected to the internet and therefore cannot be hacked,” the attacks have raised concerns about potential attempts to disrupt democratic processes.

Of particular note is the targeting of ENGIE Electrabel’s Nuclear Power Plant Doel.

While nuclear facilities maintain strict security measures, including completely separate operating systems from plant PC networks, the attack underscores the potential vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure.

ENGIE Electrabel has stated that they closely monitor protection against computer hacking and cyber attacks, meeting all legal requirements and regularly testing their security measures.

As Belgium grapples with this wave of cyber attacks, it serves as a stark reminder of the evolving nature of modern warfare and the need for robust cybersecurity measures.

The incident highlights the increasing use of cyber tactics in geopolitical conflicts and the importance of international cooperation in combating such threats.

As NoName continues its campaign, Belgian authorities and cybersecurity experts remain vigilant, working to protect critical infrastructure and maintain the integrity of the nation’s digital systems.

Also Read:

Critical Chrome Exploit Lets Hackers Run Malicious Code