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Saturday, August 8, 2009

Blogger at Center of Web Attacks Blames Russia

So, you'll recall the Web attacks which led to outages at Twitter and interruptions in service on Facebook, as well as triggered defenses at unspecified Google holdings, and how some thought a single blogger was the target? He was. And he blames Russia.

Pro-Georgian blogger, Cyxymu, was believed (by some) to have been singled-out by whomever was behind the DoS attacks which affected several popular websites Thursday morning. While many cast aspersion on the idea, investigations into the attacks proved the theory true. The blogger said he was targeted because he speaks "the truth about the Russian-Georgian war." All of the sites which were attacked were sites at which Cyxymu had an account.

Cyxymu, whose real name is Georgy, said he does not know who, or what faction, in Russia is behind it, but he is certain Russia is the source. Other sources said there was no proof that the attacks were "state-endorsed." In fact, a security official said an "individual who took objection to [Cyxymu]'s blogs" was "almost certainly" behind the attacks. The official, Graham Cluley of cybersecurity firm, Sophos, said it was a case of "Internet vigilantism" gone wrong.

The attacks occurred on the one-year anniversary of the conflict, which was celebrated by Georgians with a day of "somber ceremonies" and bonfires. One year ago, Georgian forces tried to retake South Ossetia but were rebuked by Russian forces who then pushed farther into the region. The battles were preceded and followed by minor clashes, but the fighting lasted only five days, when a ceasefire agreement was reached. Georgia says its attack was in response to a secret Russian invasion, while Russia claims it was a deliberate criminal act.

Figures vary, but anywhere from 30,000-200,000 people on both sides remain displaced due to the fighting. Most of these are Georgians, who face terrible hardships and rely upon aid for relief, due to the remoteness of their locations.

© C Harris Lynn, 2009

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