Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on Saturday that he has become the target of a cyberattack, citing his government's support for Ukraine as the primary motive. Tajani stated that "cybercriminals" have been disseminating his personal information on the dark web over several days. He expressed concern that the attackers are actively seeking additional details, which has placed both him and his family at risk of intimidation and further threats.
Defending Italy's diplomatic position, Tajani remarked, "Our stance on Ukraine is the political reason why I have been targeted: for these criminal organisations, defending the freedom of a sovereign state and taking a clear stand in favour of a nation’s democracy and independence is dangerous." Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a statement on Saturday expressing her full support for the Foreign Minister.
Separately, the entity overseeing the construction of the Brenner Base Tunnel, a 55-kilometer rail link connecting Innsbruck, Austria, with Fortezza, Italy, confirmed it was also the target of a cyberattack in recent weeks. BBT SE reported that the security breach occurred on October 17. According to the company, they responded by activating cyber security protocols, isolating affected systems, and engaging external specialists to conduct a forensic analysis.
The breach at BBT SE reportedly involved the theft of non-public data after attackers gained access to the company's internet-connected network. Initial investigations, first reported by the Tiroler Tageszeitung, suggest that the pro-Russian hacker group known as Everest may be responsible for the incident.
