Govt says cyber-attack originated from the UAE

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior say experts now have evidence showing that the cyber-attack on the country’s official media originated from the United Arab Emirates. During a news conference in Doha on Thursday, officials said the planning for the hacking of Qatar News Agency (QNA) started as early as April. Investigators also reportedly traced the IP […]

Qatar’s Ministry of Interior say experts now have evidence showing that the cyber-attack on the country’s official media originated from the United Arab Emirates.

During a news conference in Doha on Thursday, officials said the planning for the hacking of Qatar News Agency (QNA) started as early as April.

Investigators also reportedly traced the IP (internet protocol) address linked to the hacking to the UAE.

Captain Othman Salem al-Hamoud said that the level and the quality of the hacking was so professional that it had to have “state resources” behind it.

Earlier, Lieutenant-Colonel Ali Mohammed al-Mohannadi, head of the ministry’s technology division, said the hacking operation took place in coordination with, and through, “one of the blockading states”.

“The hackers had total control of the QNA network, including the related accounts, websites and related social platforms,” Mohannadi said.