# Pro-Russian Hackers Target Italian Officials and Investigators on Darkweb NoName057(16) group offers bounties for private data of top Italian security officials. - **Source:** [Il Sole 24 Ore – Italia](https://www.ilsole24ore.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-07 - **Topic:** [technology](https://brifing.si/c/technology) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/031fb8db-8966-4250-824a-7979826d3fbf ## Targeting Key Security Officials The pro-Russian hacker group NoName057(16) has published private information belonging to high-ranking Italian officials. Targets include Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, Rome Prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi, and Postal Police chief Ivano Gabrielli. These individuals are currently leading investigations into the collective's activities, marking a direct escalation in the ongoing cyber conflict. ## The Darkweb 'Tribunal' Platform The hackers utilize a darkweb site titled 'Tribunal' to host dossiers on eighteen European targets. The site, accessible only via the Tor network, contains email addresses, phone numbers, and Telegram contacts. The group explicitly offers financial rewards to users who provide additional private information on these specific individuals, facilitating further harassment. ## Retaliation for Operation Eastwood This campaign appears to be a direct response to Operation Eastwood, an international crackdown coordinated by Europol and Eurojust between July 14 and 17, 2025. Italian authorities, specifically the Rome Prosecutor’s Office and the Postal Police, played a central role in identifying members of the group, prompting this retaliatory data exposure. ## Broadening the Scope of Targets The list extends beyond Italian officials to include international figures such as Eurojust President Michael Schmid and Europol’s cybercrime director Edvardas Šileris. Additionally, three German investigative journalists are named in the dossiers. This expansion indicates a strategic attempt to intimidate those involved in judicial, law enforcement, and media oversight of cybercrime. ## Diplomatic Tensions and DDoS Attacks Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has faced repeated hostility from Russian officials, including spokesperson Maria Zakharova, following his warnings about election interference. On October 8, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website suffered a massive DDoS attack. This digital assault coincided with the public exposure of Tajani’s personal contact details on the darkweb. ## Hybrid Warfare Tactics Explained NoName057(16) is widely linked to the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency. Their tactics combine technical DDoS attacks, which overwhelm servers with traffic, with psychological intimidation through data leaks. This hybrid warfare strategy aims to destabilize European institutions by targeting the personal lives of those responsible for national and regional security. ## Escalating European Security Risks The current situation is part of a broader pattern of hybrid threats across Europe, including recent false bomb alarms on aircraft and cyberattacks on retail infrastructure. While the direct coordination of these events by the Kremlin remains a hypothesis, the systematic exposure of private data represents a tangible reality for European officials. ## Investigative Response and Implications The Rome Prosecutor’s Office has officially opened an investigation following the filing of a criminal report. As authorities work to mitigate the impact of these leaks, the incident highlights the vulnerability of public servants to digital retaliation. The focus remains on protecting the individuals targeted while countering the group's ongoing cyber operations. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/hacker-russi-soldi-informazioni-tajani-voi-e-gabrielli-dati-privati-gia-darkweb-AJJzMe7B — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._