The National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) Italian has detected a “massive attack using a ransomware that is already circulating” and which has been able to cause cuts in internet service throughout the country. Specifically, the company Telecom Italia (TIM) has suffered certain technical problems that have caused thousands of clients throughout the country to complain about cuts and failures on the Internet. The company, initially, has ensured that the origin of the incident is due to a problem with an international link.
The Italian computer security incident response team has announced that they have already inspected “several dozen national systems likely compromised and alerted numerous subjects whose systems are exposed, but not yet compromised”. Specifically, they have explained that this hacker attack is directed at the servers VMware ESXi.
In this regard, the ACN has pointed out that this type of ransomware takes advantage of the weakness of this type of server and has recalled that, although the manufacturer has already corrected this flaw in the security system, it is necessary that all owners “update your systems immediately“. The ‘ransomware’ method, which hackers regularly resort to and also used in this case, involves blocking the system under the premise of requesting money from the user in exchange for releasing it.
The Italian authorities have warned that this hack would also have affected other European countries and even North America and whose origin is unknown.
Internet failures
One of the consequences, according to experts, has been cuts in internet service. From one end of the country to the other, from the northern city of Milan to the Sicilian capital, Palermo, have reported problems throughout this Sunday. According to the notices that have been sent to the company, the problem was mainly concentrated in the services of fixed line internet.
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“An international interconnection problem was detected that affects the service nationwide. Analyzes are underway to resolve the issue“, has assured a TIM spokesman. As reported by the Italian news agency ANSA, there is no indication that the problems were caused by hackers.
Many Italian citizens have protested that internet service failures have caused interruptions in the transmission of the Serie A match between Spezia and Italian league leaders Napoli.