On December 28, 2024, a pro-Russian hacker group named NoName057(16) conducted a sophisticated Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) cyberattack targeting multiple Italian government and transportation websites. The attack primarily focused on the Italian Foreign Ministry and two major Milan airports - Malpensa and Linate. The hackers claimed the assault was a "well-deserved cyber response" to Italy's support for Ukraine, flooding targeted websites with massive amounts of data traffic to temporarily paralyze their operations.

The cyberattack began early Saturday morning, affecting approximately ten official websites across Italy. Italy's cybersecurity agency quickly responded, mitigating the attack's impact within two hours. Despite the website disruptions, critical infrastructure remained uncompromised - airport operations continued normally, and mobile applications remained functional. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed this was the third such attack on the foreign ministry in recent days, describing the incident as "certainly of Russian origin" and subsequently ordering the creation of a new cybersecurity and artificial intelligence department within the ministry.

The NoName057(16) hacker group has established a pattern of targeting public institutions and strategic sectors in NATO member states supporting Ukraine. Their actions are directly linked to Russia's ongoing invasion, with Italy being a prominent supporter of Ukrainian resistance. Earlier in 2024, the group had already targeted key Italian institutions, including Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's website and various ministerial platforms. The National Cybersecurity Agency reported a staggering 625% increase in DDoS-type cyberattacks compared to the previous year, highlighting the escalating digital conflict.

Italy's response to these repeated cyberattacks demonstrates increasing digital resilience and preparedness. The country's cybersecurity infrastructure proved robust, quickly neutralizing the DDoS attack and preventing significant disruptions. Authorities, including cybersecurity police spokesman Marco Valerio Cervellini and postal police director Ivano Gabrielli, emphasized that these attacks are cyclical and strategically designed to challenge Western countries' support for Ukraine. The incident underscores the evolving nature of modern geopolitical conflicts, where digital warfare has become a critical battleground for state and proxy actors.