‘Face the Consequences': Moroccan Hackers Strike Back at Algerian Targets
In a message posted on Telegram yesterday, Phantom Atlas announced they had successfully breached the internal systems of Algeria's General Post and Telecommunications Corporation (MGPTT) within 24 hours of the CNSS attack.
The group claimed to have extracted 'over 13 gigabytes of confidential files' containing personal data and 'highly sensitive strategic documents,' with some reports suggesting the stolen data could reach up to 20 gigabytes.
'We are observing. We are capable. Any future act of provocation will be met with a targeted and disproportionate response,' the group warned in their statement, directly addressing the Algerian government.
The Moroccan hackers also claimed to have penetrated the Algerian Ministry of Labor's systems, stating they uncovered documents revealing 'deep structural flaws and chronic mismanagement within key state institutions.'
Phantom Atlas made an explicit reference to the Western Sahara dispute: 'The Moroccan Sahara is not up for debate. It will remain under full Moroccan sovereignty. Morocco will never relinquish a single inch.'
Following attempts by MGPTT Director General Zekri Mahmoud to downplay the breach, they further cautioned this morning: 'To those hiding behind false slogans and trying to mask their failure – the recent leaks are not a simple incident, they are an indirect message. Your attempts to minimize this event will not go unnoticed.'
In a parallel operation, another Moroccan entity identified as 'OPx005' reported executing a large-scale DDoS attack that successfully disrupted multiple Algerian government websites, including those of the Prime Minister's office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Defense.
CNSS breach exposes millions of Moroccan employee records
The counterattacks came after the Algerian hacking group 'Jabaroot' breached CNSS systems, reportedly exposing personal data of nearly 2 million Moroccan employees across approximately 500,000 businesses.
The leaked documents allegedly included salary certificates and employee lists from various organizations, including the royal holding SIGER and the Israeli liaison office in Rabat.
In an official statement Wednesday, CNSS acknowledged the breach but claimed that preliminary verification showed the leaked documents were 'often false, inaccurate or truncated.'
The institution confirmed its computer system had been targeted by 'a series of cyberattacks aimed at circumventing security measures.'
'As soon as the data leak was observed, the IT security protocol was activated with corrective measures that contained the path used and strengthened infrastructures,' CNSS stated, adding that measures have been implemented to identify the affected data precisely.
In response, Jabaroot released personal information of CNSS Director General Hassan Boubrik and challenged the institution: 'We are ready to apologize and withdraw all published data if CNSS can prove that even a single document in the leak is false, particularly regarding senior officials' salaries.'
The incident has drawn attention from political figures, with Abdellah Bouanou, head of the Justice and Development Party's (PJD) parliamentary group, calling for enhanced cybersecurity measures across ministerial sectors and public institutions.
The Algerian hackers claimed their initial attack was in retaliation for alleged 'Moroccan harassment of official Algerian social media pages,' specifically citing the suspension of the Algerian Press Service (APS) account on the social media platform X.
Meanwhile, Phantom Atlas concluded their message with a stern warning. 'This is not merely a cyberattack. It is a message of deterrence and defiance. We will not remain silent in the face of aggression,' they vowed.
'Every hostile act against Morocco, its people, or its sovereignty will be answered. This is a show of force, resilience, and strategic reach. You underestimated us. Now you are witnessing the consequences.'
Who is behind the CNSS breach?
A subsequent investigation by Moroccan cybersecurity researchers into the Jabaroot breach uncovered what experts described as a 'Bad OpSec' (Bad Operational Security) mistake that exposed the attacker's identity.
The error occurred when Jabaroot initially forwarded messages from a personal Telegram account with the handle '3N16M4' instead of posting directly to their channel.
Though the messages were quickly deleted and reposted without the forwarding tag, Moroccan researchers had already captured the digital trail.
The investigation traced the handle to a GitHub account belonging to a security engineer named Rachid Mzannar, currently residing in Bochum, Germany.
While the Jabaroot group claimed Algerian origins, forensic analysis of CTF (Capture The Flag) competition records suggested the individual behind the handle was actually from Tunisia.
The investigation team, comprising researchers Edd13Mora, Jakom, 0xPwny, C3poD4Y, ZeroMemoryEx, Tea, and Farisi, noted that while these findings raise questions about the attack's true origins, they remain preliminary and require further verification. Tags: cyberattacksMoroccan hackersThe National Social Security Fund (CNSS)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Ya Biladi
13 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
Moroccan cuisine shines at DC Embassy Chef Challenge with Chef Ilham Achemakou
Gastronomy and diplomacy often go hand in hand. Moroccan cuisine was recently celebrated at the annual «DC Embassy Chef Challenge», a prestigious culinary competition that brings together top chefs from diplomatic missions in the U.S. capital. Representing Morocco among chefs from 34 countries, Ilham Achemakou of the Moroccan Embassy in Washington claimed third place with her masterful rendition of the iconic chicken pastilla. Her dish won over a panel of expert judges and food journalists. Speaking at the event, Chef Achemakou expressed her pride in showcasing the rich and time-honored culinary heritage of Morocco on the international stage. Organizers highlighted that the competition offers a unique opportunity to sample culinary creations from around the world, prepared by accomplished chefs who represent their nations' cultures through cuisine. Morocco has stood out in past editions as well, thanks to the participation of renowned chefs such as Moha Feddal and Faissal Zahouani. The «DC Embassy Chef Challenge» serves as a vibrant platform for culinary diplomacy, using food to foster cross-cultural dialogue and celebrate global traditions.
Ya Biladi
16 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
French-Moroccan student faces charges for hacking Paris-Dauphine profiles with Palestinian flag
Motawassim L., a 22-year-old French-Moroccan computer science master's student at Paris-Dauphine University, is facing charges for altering the intranet profiles of 18 students on October 7, 2024. He allegedly replaced their profile photos with a Palestinian flag and the slogan «Free Palestine». According to Le Monde, the cyberattack, carried out from his family home in Saint-Denis, targeted students identified as members of the Dauphine chapter of the Union of Jewish Students (UEJF). At a court hearing on Friday, July 11, the public prosecutor requested a five-month suspended prison sentence and mandatory participation in a citizenship program at the Shoah Memorial. While the main charge is «fraudulent modification of data», civil parties—including LICRA and the Union of Jewish Students of France—have called for the act to be qualified with the aggravating circumstance of antisemitism. They argue that both the selection of targets and the timing point to a deliberate attack based on religious affiliation. Motawassim L. denies any antisemitic intent. He described his actions as a political statement made «in a moment of emotion… in reaction to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza», and insisted it was not driven by hate. «It was more of a political act, in the context of student protests», he said, explaining that he selected the profiles based on visible interactions on UEJF's Instagram page. His defense team argued that emotional context should not distort the legal interpretation of the incident. His lawyer, Vincent Brengarth, cautioned against framing the case as overly symbolic. «It is not this court's role to make up for the events of October 7», he said, as reported by Le Parisien.
Ya Biladi
19 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
French-Moroccan killed after trying to stop a violent altercation
Georges Abdel Malek, a 36-year-old French-Moroccan, died on Tuesday, July 8, at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, after being violently struck by a driver in Corbeil-Essonnes, in the Paris region. The incident took place overnight between July 4 and 5, at the market square in the Tarterêts neighborhood, where Abdel was spending time with relatives. According to Le Parisien, a confrontation broke out between Abdel's group and a man using cocaine in a parked car. The individual, identified as Walid B., a homeless man, was reportedly told to leave the area. Tensions escalated when he allegedly threatened the group with a box cutter before being chased away. He later returned, this time behind the wheel of his car. According to preliminary findings, he tried to run over several people. Abdel, who was reportedly trying to calm things down, was violently hit, dragged for several meters, and thrown to the ground. He died from a head injury three days later. Married and the father of a young daughter, Abdel was well known and respected in his neighborhood. Born in France to Moroccan parents, he had previously worked as an ambulance driver before moving into the security field. «Abdel was the calm, composed guy who hated conflict. That he left us like this is tragic», a close friend told Le Parisien. The driver has been charged with murder and placed in pre-trial detention. While he denies the accusations, videos filmed by witnesses may confirm the intentional nature of the act. Another person, who was involved in confronting the suspect before the tragedy, has also been charged. A funeral prayer will be held at the mosque in Corbeil-Essonnes before his body is repatriated to Morocco. A fundraiser has also been launched to support his family.
