Cyberattacks on public bodies: the leaders of Anonymous Fénix arrested

In recent days, an operation has been made public against cyberattacks on public bodies in Spain, which has culminated in the arrest of the main members of the hacktivist group Anonymous Fénix. The action, led by the Guardia Civil, highlights the real impact that this type of computer attack can have on essential services and the need to strengthen corporate IT security in the public sphere.

According to officially published information, the detainees are behind multiple actions directed against institutional platforms, with the objective of interrupting their operation and generating media impact.

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What is known about the cyberattack?

According to data released by the Guardia Civil, the operation has made it possible to arrest the four main members of the hacktivist group Anonymous Fénix, allegedly responsible for various attacks directed against Spanish public bodies.

Research suggests that the group mainly employed:

1. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks to saturate servers.
2. Coordinated actions to interrupt the availability of institutional portals.
3. Dissemination of claims through digital channels.

This type of attack does not necessarily seek the theft of information, but rather the interruption of service. However, a security breach associated with such an incident can lead to greater consequences if not properly managed.

The operation has had the collaboration of international organizations such as Europol and Interpol, which demonstrates the transnational dimension that these groups can acquire.

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Why this sector is a target

Public bodies are, in many cases, part of what they are considered critical infrastructures or essential services for citizens.

They are a priority objective for several reasons:

• They manage the sensitive information of millions of citizens.
• They offer essential services (healthcare, e-government, security).
• They have a high reputational and media impact.
• They are symbolically relevant to hacktivist movements.

A computer attack against a public institution doesn't just generate an operational interruption. It can cause:

• Loss of public trust.
• Political and reputational impact.
• Economic costs derived from the recovery.
• Regulatory research if there is data exposure.

Therefore, corporate IT security applied to the public sector cannot be understood as a technological expense, but rather as a strategic investment.

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How do these types of attacks occur

Los cyberattacks on public bodies based on DDoS, they are usually produced using a relatively well-known pattern.

These types of attacks are usually caused by five main causes:

1. Use of networks of compromised devices (botnets).
2. Exploitation of services exposed to the Internet without adequate protection.
3. Lack of malicious traffic mitigation systems
4. Absence of 24/7 monitoring.
5. Deficiencies in the resilience architecture.

Although DDoS focuses on availability, it is often combined with other techniques. In poorly protected environments, a saturation attack can serve as a distraction to attempt a deeper intrusion.

Therefore, protection against these incidents should not be limited to blocking traffic. It must be integrated into a global strategy that includes:

• Continuous monitoring.
• Vulnerability analysis.
• Structured incident management.
• Business continuity plans.

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Key lessons for companies

Although this case concerns public bodies, the findings also apply to the private sector.

First lesson: availability is as critical as confidentiality. Many organizations focus their strategy on preventing breaches, but neglect operational resilience.

Second lesson: cooperation is essential. The coordinated intervention between national and international police forces demonstrates that the response to a digital threat requires collaboration.

Third lesson: Anticipation reduces impact. Organizations that have:

• Regular audits.
• Attack simulations.
• SOC services with continuous monitoring.
• Documented response plans.

they have a much greater ability to react to a real incident.

Fourth lesson: The security breach doesn't always start with a complex flaw. In many cases, it starts with a misconfiguration, an oversized infrastructure without specific protection, or a lack of proper segmentation.

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Cybersecurity as a strategic priority

Cases such as that of Anonymous Fénix demonstrate that cyberattacks on public bodies are not a hypothetical scenario, but an operational reality.

The key question for any organization is not whether it can become a target, but rather:

Are we ready to resist and recover quickly?

Cybersecurity must be approached from a strategic perspective that includes:

• Governance and leadership (CISO or security officer).
• Appropriate technology.
• Clear processes.
• Training and internal culture.
• Regulatory compliance (ENS, NIS2, ISO 27001).

In a context where threats are constantly evolving, digital resilience becomes a differentiating element.

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Apolo Cybersecurity: Anticipation, Detection and Response

At Apolo Cybersecurity, we help public and private organizations prepare for scenarios such as recent cyberattacks on public bodies.

Our approach combines:

• 24/7 SOC with advanced monitoring.
• Vulnerability analysis and intrusion testing.
• CISO as a Service to strengthen governance.
• Continuity and incident response plans.

Protection doesn't start when the attack occurs. It starts much earlier.

If you want to evaluate your organization's real level of exposure and reinforce your business IT security strategy, our team can help you with a diagnosis adapted to your environment.

Contact Apolo Cybersecurity and take the step towards proactive protection aligned with current threats.