Several Nato websites along with the coalition’s cyber defence ‘centre of excellence’ have been taken offline by a hacktivist group dubbed ‘CyberBerkut’ in a series of DDoS attacks amid Crimea’s independence vote.
The latest attack was reportedly carried out by patriotic Ukraine citizens annoyed over NATO’s role in the stand off.
Declaring the origination of attack, the website of Cyber Berkut said: "We, Cyber Berkut, announce that today at 6:00 p.m. we started the cyberattack on NATO resources."
"We, Cyber Berkut, will not allow the presence NATO occupation on the territory of our homeland, because it opposes NATO intervention in Ukraine," they added.
Hackers also claimed that the Nato cyber defence organisation is involved with the ‘Kiev junta’ to ‘conduct active propaganda’, and had been jamming information on ‘the actions of criminals who call themselves ‘the lawful authorities”.
"We appeal to Nato cyber-bandits: get away from Ukrainian land!" hacktivists added.
However, Nato alliance’s spokeswoman Oana Lungescu tweeted: "Several #NATO websites have been target of significant DDoS attack. No operational impact. Our experts working to restore normal function."
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