WHID 2008-43: Russian nuclear power web sites attacked amid accident rumors

Attack Information
WHID ID: 
2008-43
Date Occured: 
5 Jan 2009
Attack Method: 
Outcome Information
Outcome: 
Target Information
Attacked Entity Field: 
Government
Attacked Entity Geography: 
Russia

Novosti, the Russian news agency reports that in what seems to be a planned dual head attack to break panic by spreading a rumor about a nuclear accident near St. Petersburg.

At the same time that e-mails spreading the rumor where distributed,   hackers blocked access to web sites enabling the public to check for themselves the status of the nuclear power pland intensifying the panic.