Hungarian police have identified and apprehended a man from Budapest who allegedly orchestrated a series of digital attacks that disabled numerous news portals in Hungary and targeted an international press organization based in Austria. The man operated under the alias ‘Hano’ and was tracked down by the National Bureau of Investigation’s Cybercrime Division, the police confirmed in a statement released Monday.
According to investigators, the individual launched persistent and recurring distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against several Hungarian websites beginning in April 2023. Among his targets were Media1.hu and Vipcast.hu, both of which were periodically forced offline due to the repeated overloads. The attacks reportedly continued into 2024 and were found to be deliberately planned and executed with technical precision.
By analyzing access logs and network traffic data, the authorities determined that the attacker had used so-called ‘rent-a-DDoS’ services and various online tools to configure his digital assaults. Throughout the campaigns, he frequently left personal taunts or offensive messages under his hacker name ‘Hano’, appearing even in service provider logs tied to the attacks.
Beyond the initial websites, the attacker extended his focus to other high-profile Hungarian news outlets including HVG, 444, 24.hu, Telex, and Ellenszél.hu. One of the attacks also struck the website of the International Press Institute (IPI.media), an organization based in Vienna. Hungarian police have since reached out to Austrian authorities for coordination on the matter.
A breakthrough in the case came after authorities linked digital fingerprints and fake profiles to a 23-year-old Budapest resident. A search of his home on 9 July led to the seizure of several pieces of computer hardware and digital evidence, which reportedly confirmed his involvement in criminal activity.
The suspect has been formally questioned on charges relating to unauthorized access or interference with information systems or data. He remains free pending the investigation, as forensic analysis of the seized material continues.
The police have not ruled out additional charges as they examine the full scope of the digital evidence.
Related articles:
