A massive cyberattack on X (formerly Twitter) has left millions of users worldwide facing access issues, as details emerge about its origin and nature. On March 10, 2025, Elon Musk, the owner of X, disclosed during an interview with Fox Business Network, the scale and origin of the attack, pointing to Ukraine.
Musk emphasized the severity of the event, stating, "We’re not sure what exactly happened, but there was a massive cyberattack attempting to take X down with IP addresses originating from the Ukraine area." This statement came amid partial restoration of X’s functionality. He also noted, "There was (still is) a massive cyberattack against 𝕏," indicating the continuing nature of the threats the platform faced.
This aggressive cyberattack has been attributed to the hacking group known as Dark Storm Team, who have publicly claimed responsibility for the disruptions. Cybersecurity firm SpyoSecure confirmed the claims, stating it had spoken directly with the leader of Dark Storm Team, who revealed the attack was carried out using Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDOS) techniques. These methods flood web servers with excessive traffic, rendering them unable to respond to legitimate user requests, leading many users to experience sudden downtime.
According to reports compiled by Downdetector, around 21,000 users across the United States and about 10,800 users from the United Kingdom reported issues correlates with the timing of the attack. This significant number points toward widespread disruption, and experts believe the extent of the affected users could be even larger than reported as Downdetector collects data exclusively from user reports.
The attack’s impact voiced by Musk indicates it’s not just another random occurrence. He stated, "We get attacked every day, but this was done with a lot of resources. Either a large, coordinated group and/or a country is involved." This raises concerns about the level of sophistication behind the attack and potentially the geopolitical consequences stemming from such actions.
Downdetector reported disruption extending beyond X, with cybersecurity firm Cisco noting numerous other companies worldwide experienced similar connectivity issues. The overlap suggests the cyberattack may have had broader targets than just X, hinting at coordinated cyber warfare tactics. This troubling situation reflects modern vulnerabilities where the digital domain is increasingly the frontline of global conflict.
While the Dark Storm Team claimed responsibility, it’s important to note, they do not appear to operate within Ukraine itself. Speculations abound about whether this is truly reflective of Ukrainian interests or perhaps indicative of something more complex involving international cyber tactics, spy wars, or misinformation campaigns.
The exact causes and consequences of this cyberattack are still under investigation, but it highlights the growing threat of cyber warfare. Musk's remarks suggest discussions may be happening on potential responses or strategies to protect the platform and its users. The X owner acknowledged the ramifications of such events, remarking, "It's being looked at..." as teams analyze how to bolster defenses.
Cybersecurity experts are now pushing for stronger protecting measures across all platforms as such incidents can mislead public perception and breach significant data security. The aftermath of the attack has not only hindered X’s operations but raises alarms about the vulnerability of social media platforms to targeted cyber assaults. Musk's final commentary resonates widely within security circles aiming to prevent fallout as similar incidents continue to emerge.
With the digital battleground only expected to grow more intense, users and companies alike must remain vigilant. This latest attack on X provides both lessons and stark reminders on the need for advancing security protocols and fostering international cooperation against malicious online behaviors.