The hacktivist group known as Anonymous Sudan has taken credit for an alleged cyberattack targeting the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). This department, a cornerstone of the U.S. federal executive branch, is responsible for overseeing the enforcement of law and the administration of justice across the nation, akin to the justice or interior ministries in other countries.
According to their announcement, the cyber attack was carried out completely through the group’s infamous “InfraShutdown” distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) infrastructure. DDoS attacks overwhelm websites and networks with malicious traffic in an effort to knock them offline.
Anonymous Sudan say their strike against the Justice Department is retaliation for U.S. support of Israel amid escalating violence in the Gaza Strip region. They also cited America’s perceived “interference” in Sudan as a reason for lashing out.
“The attacks on the United States will continue as long as it continues to support Israel and also interfere in Sudanese affairs,” warns the ominous Telegram message. “One of the reasons for the attack: drawing attention to the dire situation in Sudan.”
While the full extent of the damage is unclear, Anonymous Sudan declared, “We therefore claim any damage to the overall health of the infrastructure of the United States Department of Justice.”
The audacious cyberattack comes amid heightened tensions in the Gaza region, with clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinians. The crisis has fueled pro-Palestinian hacking groups like Anonymous Sudan to take disruptive actions in cyberspace.