Anonymous hackers group attack Maldivian government websites for ties with India

Upset with Male’s growing diplomatic ties and cooperation with New Delhi, an international group of hackers targets two Maldivian government websites

New Delhi:  Two Maldivian government websites were hacked and defaced with anti-Indian messages on May 3, by an international hackers group known as ‘Anonymous’. Official websites of the Maldivian government’s Health Ministry and Health Protection Agency (HPA) are currently offline following the cyber-attack on the government portals amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The hack was reportedly carried out by ‘Anonymous’, a well-known, notorious group of hackers infamous for staging various types of cyber-attacks on governments, institutions and security agencies, and multinational corporations. Reports indicate that after the hack, a cryptic video was uploaded by the group on both websites, which was then later taken down by the Maldivian authorities.

Sources told TheNews21 that a highly-edited video was uploaded on the websites showing a figure wearing a mask commonly referred to as a ‘Guy Fawkes’ mask speaking to the camera and threatening more attacks on the Maldivian government. The hacker also claimed that more classified information of the Male administration would be leaked as revenge for the actions of the government-run by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. 

“The message in the video threatened to destroy the Maldivian government networks and financial infrastructure if policies were not changed to benefit the local people,” a government official, requesting anonymity told TheNews21.

The message also targeted Male’s growing cooperation and enhanced diplomatic ties with New Delhi. The attacker said that the ‘fascist government’ of India had taken over the Maldives and alleged that the Parliament members of Male had also been bribed by the leadership of New Delhi.

The hacker claimed that the Indian government now has an upper-hand to the internal affairs of the Maldives. Thus, the Maldivian government continues to fails on deciding the best domestic policies.

The video attacked the Maldivian leadership of President Solih. The message claimed that the island nation was currently starring at its biggest economic risk as President Solih had only been engaging in political games during such a critical time. 

The cryptic video also highlighted the reportedly weakened domestic employment scenes in Male, alleging that many citizens have lost their jobs due to the pandemic.  

According to local media reports, the Maldives’ Minister of Communications, Science, and Technology, Mohamed Maleeh Jamaal said that the ministry, jointly with investigative authorities, was investigating the matter of the hacking of the websites.

Minister Jamaal took to social media (Twitter) wherein he said that that hacking the HPA website at such a vulnerable time was a cowardly and regressive act. Media also reported Maldivian Police spokesperson, Izmia Zahir confirming that the cyber-attack incident was being investigated by Male’s law enforcement division.