Hackers send fake nuclear alerts through Ukraine and Russia emergency apps
Original title: Hackers Send Fake Nuclear Threat Alerts to Ukrainian and Russian Citizens
Ukraine shut Air Alert after false radiation and chemical warnings; Russia said its emergency app was also attacked.
Ukraine and Russia said on Sunday night that attackers compromised their emergency alert apps and pushed fake air-raid, nuclear, chemical and street-fighting warnings. Ukraine’s Air Alert sent nationwide red-level alerts from about 22:47, then all-clears by 23:53; the Ministry of Digital Transformation disabled the app for maintenance. A few hours later, Russia’s emergency ministry said a “massive cyberattack” sent fake information and that the wider alert system still worked via sirens, texts, TV and radio. The BBC reported the incident; neither side’s account has been independently confirmed.
Unconfirmed: Neither side’s claims have been independently confirmed; the Atesh screenshot is described as purported.
- False alerts began about 22:47 with a radiation warning for Kyiv.
- A Russian-language message mentioned a nuclear alert and “Oreshnik”.
- Loudspeakers in the Lviv region sounded a radiation hazard with no real threat.
- Vinnytsia’s leader warned residents not to click a link in the message.
- UNN cited Atesh for a purported screenshot of fake nuclear alerts inside Russia.
Impact: False nuclear, chemical and air-raid warnings sent to the public
| Product | Affected |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Air Alert (Air Alarm) app | — |
| Russia Ministry of Emergency Situations emergency alert app | — |
- 1.Do not click links in the alert messages.
- 2.Use sirens, official channels and other sources while the app is down.
- 3.Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation advises enabling phone notifications and reading only official sources.
From the original article
4 min read at securityaffairs.com
Hackers reportedly hit Ukraine ‘s and Russia ‘s emergency alert apps, sending fake nuclear and attack warnings and raising concerns over public safety. Ukraine and Russia both said on Sunday night that hackers had compromised their emergency alert apps and used them to send fake warnings about air raids and other attacks, including nuclear threats. […]
By Pierluigi Paganini · securityaffairs.com
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