• Spain arrests suspected hacktivists for DDoSing govt sites February 23, 2026 04:59 PM 0 Spanish authorities have arrested four alleged members of a hacktivist group believed to have carried out cyberattacks targeting government ministries, political parties, and various public institutions. • The group, which called itself “Anonymous Fénix” and claimed they were affiliated with the Anonymous hacker collective, conducted distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against targets in Spain and several South American countries, according to the Spanish Civil Guard. • The first attacks occurred in April 2023 and peaked after the flash floods that struck Valencia in late October 2024, when the group’s members attacked multiple government websites, claiming Spanish authorities were responsible for the deaths and destruction caused by the storm. • Anonymous Fénix also used X and Telegram to spread anti-government messaging and recruit volunteers for its campaigns. • “From September 2024 they increased their activity and initiated a campaign of recruitment of volunteers with the aim of perpetrating cyberattacks against relevant domains,” the Spanish Civil Guardsaidover the weekend. • “They reached their peak after the DANA of Valencia when they managed to successfully attack different websites of the Public Administration, justifying that they were ’the responsible for the tragedy.’” The Civil Guard arrested the group’s administrator and moderator in May 2025, in Alcalá de Henares, near Madrid, and Oviedo, in the northern region of Asturias.

Article Summaries:

  • Spanish authorities have detained four members of the hacktivist group “Anonymous Fénix,” which carried out distributed denial‑of‑service attacks against Spanish government ministries, political parties and public institutions. The group, claiming affiliation with the Anonymous collective, intensified activity after the 2024 Valencia floods, targeting sites it blamed for the disaster’s casualties and damage. Arrests were made in May 2025 in Alcalá de Henares and Oviedo, and two additional operatives were apprehended earlier this month in Ibiza and Móstoles. Spanish courts ordered the seizure of the group’s X and YouTube accounts and the closure of its Telegram channel. No charges or penalties have yet been disclosed.
  • Spanish authorities have detained four alleged members of the hacktivist group “Anonymous Fénix,” which carried out distributed denial‑of‑service attacks against government ministries, political parties and public institutions in Spain and several South American countries. The group’s activity spiked after the 2024 Valencia floods, when it targeted Spanish government websites, blaming authorities for the disaster. Arrests were made in May 2025 in Alcalá de Henares and Oviedo, and two additional operatives were apprehended earlier this month in Ibiza and Móstoles. Courts ordered the seizure of the group’s X and YouTube accounts and the closure of its Telegram channel. No specific charges or penalties were disclosed.

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