Two Sudanese Nationals Indicted for Cyberattacks

Two Sudanese nationals, Ahmed Salah Yousif Omer and Alaa Salah Yusuuf Omer, have been indicted for their involvement in the hacking group Anonymous Sudan, which is accused of launching over 35,000 distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against critical infrastructure, including a major hospital in Los Angeles and various U.S. government agencies. The attacks, which began in early 2023, resulted in significant damages exceeding $10 million and targeted organizations such as the FBI, the Defense Department, and major corporations like Microsoft and Riot Games. Authorities seized the group's powerful DDoS tool in March 2024, disrupting their operations and preventing further attacks. If convicted, Ahmed Salah faces a maximum of life in prison, while Alaa Salah could receive up to five years. The indictment highlights the group's 'callous and brazen' tactics, specifically their targeting of emergency services. This case is part of a broader international effort, dubbed 'Operation PowerOFF,' aimed at dismantling cybercriminal infrastructures.