European parliament website under cyber attack

January 26, 2012

European flags fly in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg

Enlarge

European flags fly in front of the European Parliament in the northeastern French city of Strasbourg on January 16. The European parliament website came under cyber attack Thursday but hackers failed to penetrate the assembly's internal network, a spokesman said.

The European parliament website came under cyber attack Thursday but hackers failed to penetrate the assembly's internal network, a spokesman said.

"This morning the parliament's site came under attack with massive consultation bids," spokesman Jaume Duch told AFP.

"But the hackers were unable to penetrate the parliament's inner network which continued to operate normally internally," he said, adding that an inquiry was under way.

The attack came the day of the signing in Tokyo of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which aims to create international standards for , but some groups oppose it as limiting Internet freedoms.

The pact has has sent thousands of protesters into the street this week in Poland, where dozens of websites shrouded their pages in black in protest.

However, there was no mention of an attack on the European parliament by the Anonymous.

Its Facebook page said: "Mad about ACTA? Focus actions on the EU Commission (DG Trade) & Council of EU, NOT the -- they can still say no to ACTA."

Members of the parliament have not yet voted on the agreement and might not tackle the issue until their June session.

(c) 2012 AFP

Filter


Move the slider to adjust rank threshold, so that you can hide some of the comments.


Display comments: newest first

I_Dont_Have_A_Name
Jan 26, 2012

Rank: not rated yet
I'm so sick of seeing the word "Anonymous" in every one of these articles. Hacktivism and scriptkid mischief of DDOS isn't the same as a wide spread, organized, perhaps government sanctioned, invasion of another sovereign nations computer and cyberized systems. The "Cyber-War" experts like Richard Clark have been warning about for years seems to be just around the corner...
Rank 3 /5 (1 vote)
Relevant PhysicsForums posts

More news stories

Browser wars flare in mobile space

The browser wars are heating up again, but this time the fight is for dominance of the mobile Internet.

Technology / Software

created 14 hours ago | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 3

Probability of contamination from severe nuclear reactor accidents is higher than expected: study

Catastrophic nuclear accidents such as the core meltdowns in Chernobyl and Fukushima are more likely to happen than previously assumed. Based on the operating hours of all civil nuclear reactors and the number ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created May 22, 2012 | popularity 3.6 / 5 (25) | comments 56 | with audio podcast

HyperSolar shows dirty water no barrier to power world

(Phys.org) -- The Santa Barbara, California, company, HyperSolar, is set to transparently share the ups and downs of its research experiences toward the company’s ultimate vision, successfully producing ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created May 24, 2012 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (16) | comments 17 | with audio podcast report

SpotterRF debuts Radar Backpack Kit (w/ Video)

(Phys.org) -- SpotterRF has announced a special radar backpack kit designed to enhance situational awareness for soldiers on the ground. The company says its special radar is designed for warfighters as part ...

Technology / Hi Tech & Innovation

created May 26, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 13 | with audio podcast report

Tesla to launch electric sedan in US on June 22

Tesla Motors said Tuesday it would begin deliveries of "the world's first premium electric sedan" on June 22, slightly ahead of schedule.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created May 22, 2012 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (12) | comments 18


Stunning image of smallest possible five-ringed structure

Scientists have created and imaged the smallest possible five-ringed structure – about 100,000 times thinner than a human hair – and you'll probably recognise its shape.

'Unzipped' carbon nanotubes could help energize fuel cells, batteries

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes riddled with defects and impurities on the outside could replace some of the expensive platinum catalysts used in fuel cells and metal-air batteries, according to scientists at ...

Change in developmental timing was crucial in the evolutionary shift from dinosaurs to birds: study

At first glance, it's hard to see how a common house sparrow and a Tyrannosaurus Rex might have anything in common. After all, one is a bird that weighs less than an ounce, and the other is a dinosaur that ...

Computer model used to pinpoint prime materials for efficient carbon capture

When power plants begin capturing their carbon emissions to reduce greenhouse gases – and to most in the electric power industry, it's a question of when, not if – it will be an expensive undertaking.

T cells 'hunt' parasites like animal predators seek prey, study shows

By pairing an intimate knowledge of immune-system function with a deep understanding of statistical physics, a cross-disciplinary team at the University of Pennsylvania has arrived at a surprising finding: T cells use a movement ...

Land and sea species differ in climate change response: study

(Phys.org) -- Marine and terrestrial species will likely differ in their responses to climate warming, new research by Simon Fraser University and Australia’s University of Tasmania has found.