After weeks of listing NATO organisations as targets, Russian-sponsored threat actor KillNet has claimed to put the NATO data on sale.

NATO has remained the prime target of Pro-Russian hacker group Killnet and associates like Anonymous Sudan, who have continued their attacks in order to disrupt networks and functioning. The attacks have only increased, especially after the group failed to stop Sweden’s NATO entry.

Earlier this month, KillNet, a Russian hacktivist collective, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against NATO, causing temporary disruptions to some of the military alliance’s public-facing websites.

The group had previously announced its plans to target NATO via its encrypted Telegram channel and was soliciting cryptocurrency donations to maintain the attacks.

According to reports, the cyber assault might have impacted the networks utilized by the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC), a program that enables military airlift operations to 12 member nations via the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. 

Allegedly, SAC faced difficulties communicating with one of its C-17 aircraft during the flight due to network disruptions; however, the communication was never completely lost.

This indicates that the cyber attack might have had a larger impact than previously thought, extending beyond the initial targets.

NATO data on sale: What we know so far!

In the aftermath of the attacks, KillNet is reportedly selling NATO’s data for as little as 1 USD. This alarming development highlights the importance of safeguarding sensitive information against cyber threats.

NATO has confirmed that the confidential networks utilized for communication during active missions and within the alliance’s command structure remained untouched during the recent cyber-attacks. 

The coalition has further implemented additional protective measures to strengthen its cyber defenses, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to upholding top-notch cyber security practices.

The cyber attack against the military alliance and putting the NATO data on sale by the Russian hacktivist collective KillNet underscores the importance of protecting sensitive information against cyber threats.

NATO data on sale: NATO secretary-general confirms attack

At a press conference, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg assured the public that the alliance’s experts were actively addressing the incident affecting some of the NATO websites. He also emphasized that NATO deals with cyber incidents regularly.

Putting NATO data on sale by KillNet for as little as 1 USD is a wake-up call for governments, organizations, and individuals to take proactive measures to safeguard against cyber attacks.

The KillNet cyber attack against NATO is just one of many recent examples of the growing threat of nation-sponsored cyber attacks. Sweden has recently been targeted by Killnet-affiliate Anonymous Sudan in a series of attacks.

These attacks were reportedly in response to an Islamophobic campaign that took place on January 25, 2023, which was organized by Rasmus Paludan, a controversial far-right journalist with a history of similar acts.

Paludan holds dual Danish-Swedish citizenship and, according to Swedish media reports, his demonstration permit was financed by Chang Frick, a former contributor to the Russian-backed channel RT.

The Guardian reported that the motive behind the campaign was to prevent Sweden from joining NATO, which was not in line with Russian interests in the region. As a result, Anonymous Sudan intervened with its Islam protection message, which caused Turkey, a NATO member, to consider vetoing Sweden’s entry into the organization.

Nevertheless, Sweden ultimately received approval from Turkey, and the attackers’ plans were unsuccessful.