The official website of the British royal family, royal.uk, was temporarily disabled due to a cyber attack claimed by pro-Russia hackers called "Killnet." The attack was a denial-of-service attack that overwhelmed the website's servers, causing it to be offline for over an hour. The attackers did not gain unauthorized access to the website's systems or content. Killnet has been known for launching DDoS attacks primarily targeting countries supporting Ukraine in the ongoing conflict. Their ties to Russian government organizations remain unconfirmed. The cyber attack occurred shortly after King Charles expressed support for Ukraine during a speech in Paris.
Pro-Russia hackers '
Kilnet ' have claimed responsibility for a cyber attack that temporarily disabled the official website of the British royal family over the weekend.
According to a report in ABC , the attack, characterized as a denial-of-service attack aimed at overwhelming the website's servers and rendering it inaccessible, resulted in the website being offline for more than an hour. It is crucial to note that the attackers did not gain unauthorized access to the website's systems or content.
As of now, the identity of the individuals or group behind this cyber assault remains undisclosed, and Buckingham Palace has refrained from issuing an official statement on the incident.
The group that has asserted responsibility for the attack goes by the name "Killnet." They have claimed that their motive was to launch an "attack on paedophiles," with apparent reference to
Prince Andrew , Duke of York, ABC reported.
Prince Andrew has faced allegations of sexual misconduct involving an American woman when she was 17, accusations he has consistently denied.
Killnet has been in operation since at least 2022, coinciding with Russia's military invasion of Ukraine. The group has gained notoriety for its distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, primarily targeting countries supporting Ukraine in the ongoing conflict, particularly NATO member nations.
While Killnet's DDoS attacks are typically not associated with causing extensive damage, they have been known to disrupt services for several hours or even days.
According to the report, analysts have noted that Killnet's ties to official Russian government organizations, such as the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) or the
Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), remain unconfirmed.
Nevertheless, the group is considered a potential threat to government and critical infrastructure entities, including healthcare systems.
The cyberattack on the royal family's website occurred shortly after King Charles III of Britain expressed his support for Ukraine during a speech delivered at the French Senate in Paris, ABC reported.
In his address on September 21st, King Charles strongly denounced Russia's "military aggression" and reiterated unwavering determination to see Ukraine triumph and protect fundamental freedoms. This stance aligns with the British monarch's prior statements against Russia's war in Ukraine.