Fake nuclear alerts hit emergency apps in Ukraine and Russia

Hackers hijacked emergency alert apps in both Ukraine and Russia over the weekend, sending false warnings of nuclear and chemical attacks to millions of smartphones. The first breach came late on Sunday, when users of Ukraine’s “Air Alert” app, which warns of incoming air strikes, received fake notices of nuclear, radiation and chemical threats, along with warnings of street fighting. Ukraine’s air force said the app had likely “been compromised by the enemy” and stressed: “There is no radiation threat.” Officials urged the public not to click links from unknown sources or share unverified information. Hours later, Russia’s Emergencies Ministry app was hit by what state news agency TASS called “a massive cyberattack”. A message seen by residents of the Voronezh region in the early hours of Monday falsely claimed nuclear warheads had been launched at every Russian region. It told people to stock up on food for three weeks and hide in basements. Some of the ministry’s regional channels on the MAX messenger were also reported compromised. ATESH, a pro-Ukrainian partisan movement, reportedly claimed the Russian hack as payback for the attack on Ukraine’s app, according to Ukrainian outlet UNN. Neither breach has been independently attributed, and it is unclear how many people received the alerts.