Anonymous Sudan gained notoriety with its distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, targeting Microsoft in June.
Earlier this year, the group was linked to a string of cyber attacks against Israel, Sweden, and other nations.
The enigmatic, highly skilled group claimed to be acting on behalf of oppressed Muslims, launching cyber strikes in response to perceived hostilities from Western countries. However, cybersecurity researchers have discovered connections that link the group to Russia, suggesting their activities serve a different purpose: advancing Moscow’s strategic goals.
Interestingly, the barrage of attacks against Microsoft services coincided with escalating tensions in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as noted by cybersecurity experts. This alignment with geopolitical flare-ups reflects the strategic approach of Anonymous Sudan, which coincidentally times its cyberattacks to exploit sensitive situations in countries opposed to Russia. By doing so, they aim to amplify their anti-Western messages and garner increased visibility for their cause.
In another hint to their origins, Anonymous Sudan took to telegram as Wagner’s unprecedented mutiny in Russia posed a challenge to President Vladimir Putin. Anonymous Sudan made its stance clear. In a resolute message, the group declared, “The Russian army must defeat this rebellion.”
Mattias Wåhlén from Truesec, along with other experts, have determined that Anonymous Sudan is actually a Russian information operation disguised as an Islamic hacktivist group. This assessment is based on investigations into the group’s behavior and their alignment with Russian objectives.
Governments and relevant organizations should remain vigilant.
