Cyber attack: Qurium uncovers DoS attack targeting SJS

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Cyber attack: Qurium uncovers DoS attack targeting SJS

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – In a recent revelation, non-profit digital forensic group, Qurium Media Foundation, announced its role in countering an ongoing denial-of-service (DoS) attack directed at the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) websit

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Press Freedom Group Under Siege Amidst Cyber Assaults: SJS website is back online. | Photo/ screenshot.

MOGADISHU (HORN OBSERVER) – In a recent revelation, non-profit digital forensic group, Qurium Media Foundation, announced its role in countering an ongoing denial-of-service (DoS) attack directed at the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) website since the preceding Friday.

Through a series of Twitter posts (now X), Qurium detailed the attacker’s strategy involving a proxy-provider to orchestrate the assault using thousands of IP addresses. Alarmingly, this proxy service had been previously deployed during March and April this year in an attack against Nacionale, a media entity in Prishtine, Kosovo.

"..traffic patterns suggests that the provider still permits this nefarious abuse,” Qurium reported.

Evidently, the provider continues to enable such malicious activities, raising concerns about the ethical use of their platform, as pointed out by Qurium.

This marks a significant moment as it represents the first time an international organization has investigated and reported on online attacks targeting media entity in Somalia. The online attack on SJS, a local journalists’ union staunchly committed to human rights advocacy and exposing governmental corruption, commenced last week, rendering their website inaccessible.

The SJS further disclosed multiple instances of attempted hacking targeting their leadership during the same period.

"Attacks against the press using residential proxy providers have become alarmingly common. Over the past year, we’ve observed attacks tied to three different providers promoting ‘ethical proxy services’,” stated Qurium.

In response to these attacks, Qurium has prepared a forensic report outlining their preliminary findings.

While cyber attacks are undoubtedly criminal offenses, most go unnoticed, unreported, and uninvestigated, permitting assailants to continue their unlawful actions.

According to Abdalle Mumin, Secretary-General of SJS, the denial-of-service attack carries a clear intent: to silence the organization’s voice against press violations within Somalia. Mumin characterized the attackers as frustrated, highlighting their motives.

Mumin confidently identified the culprits behind the attack, asserting that they are individuals opposed to the organization’s crucial work. He emphasized that the SJS’s online presence, vital work, and resilience have left the attackers frustrated.

"They can see that we are back online and our website if up and running. So they are unquestionably frustrated,” he added.

However, Mumin acknowledged that the past week had been fraught with stress and concern for the SJS team due to these cyber threats.

In a parallel development of concern, Mumin’s colleague, Mohamed Bulbul, has faced unlawful detention since Thursday, August 17. Plain-clothed security agents apprehended him over a news story exposing the misappropriation of police stipends during a seminar funded by the European Union’s Capacity Building Mission (EUCAP).