DDoS Attacks Target Swedish Broadcaster SVT Amid Ongoing Cybercrime Investigation
SVT faces ongoing DDoS attacks amid international investigation leading to arrests in Poland.
Key Points
- • SVT has been hit by DDoS attacks for three days, affecting its digital services.
- • Authorities in Sweden report a rising trend of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure.
- • Four individuals were arrested in Poland, linked to multiple DDoS attack services.
- • Operation PowerOff has been active since 2018 to combat international cybercrime.
In a troubling development for Swedish public service, broadcaster SVT has suffered extensive DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) attacks for three consecutive days. These cyberattacks have severely disrupted access to SVT's website and app, prompting concerns about the safety of critical infrastructure in Sweden. This incident is part of a larger trend of increasing cyberattacks targeting both private and public entities across the country.
Steffen Oxenvad, head of complex cybercrime at the National Operations Department (Noa), indicated that these attacks represent serious threats to vital public services, calling for enhanced security measures as cybercriminals become more sophisticated. Authorities and organizations in Sweden have reported a rise in similar incidents recently, further stressing the urgency of the situation.
An important international effort to combat cybercrime, known as "Operation PowerOff," has been in motion since 2018. This operation, coordinated by Europol and the FBI, aims to address the sophisticated nature of cybercriminal operations that often cross national boundaries. Oxenvad emphasized that national efforts alone cannot effectively tackle these crimes.
Recently, a significant breakthrough came with the arrest of four individuals in Poland, suspected of orchestrating numerous DDoS attacks linked to various entities including government agencies and educational institutions. These suspects are believed to be associated with a network of six services that offer DDoS attacks for financial gain, contributing thousands of attacks since 2022. While these arrests represent progress, the precise individuals or groups responsible for the recent attacks on SVT remain unidentified. "The focus now is to determine who is commissioning these attacks," stated Oxenvad.
As this situation evolves, authorities continue to investigate further to ensure the security of critical infrastructure in Sweden and to identify additional perpetrators involved in these cybercrime networks.