- Nearly 40,000 users could not access the X platform during an outage.
- Dark Storm claimed responsibility for a DDoS attack on X.
- Elon Musk suggested that the attack originated from IP addresses traced to the Ukraine area.
A cyberattack briefly took down X yesterday, March 10, preventing thousands of users from accessing the social media platform. Later, the Russia-backed hacking group Dark Storm claimed responsibility for the incident. Reports identified it as a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, a tactic designed to overload servers with excessive traffic, causing them to crash.
Thousands of users worldwide reported the outage. Downdetector logged nearly 40,000 complaints at the peak of the attack. Screenshots shared online showed failed connection attempts from multiple countries. However, platform owner Elon Musk later confirmed that user functionality was restored within hours.
Cybersecurity Experts Confirm the Attack
Cybersecurity firm SpyoSecure, which monitors online threats, confirmed the hacking group’s involvement.
SpyoSecure mentioned in a post on X a now-deleted Telegram post in which Dark Storm’s leader took credit for the attack. The group reportedly boasted about disrupting X and shared screenshots of connection failures from different parts of the world.
No Political Motive, Says Dark Storm
Despite speculation surrounding the attack, the group denied having any political motives. Social media personality Ed Krassenstein, co-founder of NFT marketplace NFTz.me, claimed he spoke directly with Dark Storm’s leader.
According to Krassenstein, the hackers described the cyberattack as merely “a demonstration of our strength” rather than an attempt to promote any specific agenda.
Related: FBI: North Korea’s “TraderTraitor” Gang Behind $1.5B Bybit Hack
Dark Storm’s Past Targets & Musk’s Reaction
Dark Storm has been active since 2023 and is known for targeting NATO countries. The group reportedly supports pro-Palestinian causes and has been responsible for several past cyberattacks.
Musk acknowledged the attack during an interview with Fox Business, stating that preliminary investigations traced the hackers’ IP addresses to the Ukraine area. However, he emphasized that the exact origins of the attack remained uncertain.
“We’re not sure exactly what happened. But there was a massive cyberattack to try and bring down the X system, with IP addresses originating in the Ukraine area,” Musk told Kudlow.
Attack Coincides with Tesla Protests, Stock Drop
The attack happened at the same time as a growing movement against Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, which aims to streamline government spending. Critics have labeled the initiative as controversial, sparking protests under the “Take Down Tesla” movement.
The protests, which have led to violent incidents at Tesla facilities across the U.S., seem to stem from concerns over Musk’s involvement in government restructuring. While no direct evidence links these protests to the X cyberattack, the timing has raised speculation about possible connections.
Related: Elon Musk’s DOGE is Now Investigating Wealthy Federal Employees for Potential Fraud
Tesla and Dogecoin Prices Slump
Meanwhile, Tesla’s stock has faced increased volatility. Following the attack and ongoing protests, the stock plunged over 15%, dropping to $222 per share.
Like Tesla’s stock, digital currencies are also experiencing a price plunge. Dogecoin, which is closely linked to Elon Musk, has been down by 8.1% in the past day, trading at $0.1582. This comes as Bitcoin is also down by 2.0%, extending its loss to 17% in the past month.
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