Italy thwarted cyberattacks from pro-Russian hackers during the Eurovision Song Contest

• Amid the Eurovision Song Contest, Italian police thwarted cyberattacks from pro-Russian hackers.
• Police blocked "attacks on network infrastructure" by the hacker groups Killnet and Legion, Reuters reported.

Italian authorities thwarted cyberattacks from pro-Russian hackers during the Eurovision Song Contest.

During contest performances and voting, Italian cybersecurity police blocked "attacks on network infrastructure" by the hacker groups Killnet and Legion, Reuters reported. Italian police also surveilled Telegram channels affiliated with the hacker groups to trace their location, the outlet reported.

Killnet threatened to "send 10 billion requests" to Eurovision's online voting system and "add votes to some other country," according to Forbes.

Last week, Killnet claimed responsibility for hacking the Italian Senate, the upper house of parliament, and the National Health Institute, making it impossible to access websites for the agencies, Reuters reported. Italian authorities said the cyberattacks were "serious incidents," noting that they did not cause any damage.

Russia was banned from participating in Eurovision following the Kremlin-ordered invasion of Ukraine, according to Forbes.

On Saturday, Ukraine's Kalush Orchestra won the contest, prompting a promise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine will host the next Eurovision contest.

"Our courage impresses the world, our music conquers Europe!" Zelenskyy said, per Reuters. "I thank the Kalush Orchestra for this victory and everyone who gave us your votes! I am sure that the sound of victory in the battle with the enemy is not far off."