NoName057 Interview «We can access any system in the world.»

NoName057 is a pro-Russian hacktivist group active since March 2022, known for carrying out distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks against countries that support Ukraine, especially NATO members.

Rafa López, CTO of Miólnir and a member of FIRST, has established contact with the group NoName057 and conducted an interview to gain insight into the motivations behind their actions. This is a unique and exclusive interview, unprecedented in the sector, as no professional has previously managed to interview a threat actor as significant as NoName057.

Rafa López (RL): How did it all start? You have become world-famous in just 48 hours, gaining fame as one of the most active and dangerous groups for pro-NATO countries.

Noname057 (NM): We appeared in the public sphere at the beginning of Russia’s Special Military Operation. That’s when we joined forces and decided to come out of the shadows. Our Telegram channel appeared in March 2022. We were not interested in fame, we were motivated by a desire to do justice and defend the honor of our Homeland, Russia, in the information space, which is what we are doing to this day.

RL: How do you classify yourselves? In Europe, you have gone from hacktivists to being considered cyber-terrorists in the context of war. How do you feel about being called that?

NM: Let them call us whatever they want, the important thing is that they respect and fear us. But seriously, we primarily consider ourselves a virus, the virus of justice, no matter how pathetic it may sound. Through our actions, we show the true attitude of the European government toward its citizens. In our posts, we often talk about what is really happening in the world and why it happens that way.

RL: What is your motivation, and what do you hope to achieve with all your actions?

NM: It’s very simple: the main goal is to stop the financing of Ukrainian neo-Nazism. Every euro or dollar not spent on war can save many lives. In 2025, the United States will force European countries to spend up to 5% of their economies on supporting military operations in Ukraine instead of their citizens and solving their internal problems. Don’t you think that’s cruel? We see that there are many brave and thoughtful people in Europe who join us, and this motivates us even more and gives us hope for the restoration of a just world. In our fight against the West, every person who stands on our side of the barricades is important to us.

RL: You are known for your successful DDoS attacks, but we have seen that you are also capable of implementing very sophisticated malware. Are there experts in all areas of cybersecurity in your group?

NM: As we have already said, people and groups who are in solidarity with us join us. Each has different professional competencies and a set of tools and technologies. You have seen this more than once during our joint cyberattacks.

RL: During several attacks, for example, in Spain on election day, you gained great fame and glory by taking down prestigious institutions. How do you usually prepare your attacks, given your success and the need to determine which organizations will be attacked? During those election days, the report recorded intrusions aimed at obtaining information. Some suggest that DDoS was not the main attack. Is it true that you are capable of entering any system, as indicated?

NM: Of course, we can get into almost anywhere if we want to. We give an important role to analytical work: we carefully select the targets of the attacks and the impact scenarios on the enemy to cause maximum damage. Our volunteers, who are inside the countries we attack, also help us.

RL: What is your opinion about the defense of the countries you attack? Many people think they have perfect defense systems, but during your attacks, they are disabled for several hours, which proves the opposite.

NM: You answered your own question. Many people think, but we verify it in practice. It is sad that we attack some resources several times, and they still remain unprotected. Some try to defend themselves, but they lack professionalism. Several of the targets we attacked remained inaccessible for days. Additionally, some of them were important government or commercial sites.

RL: In Spain, some of your branches have been arrested. Has this happened in other countries? Is there any kind of disguise so that we cannot find out if people in the EU support you? What do you think about our defense in the face of a cyberwar?

NM: After the incident in Spain, we made a statement saying that the Spanish special services, acting under the leadership of their overseas masters, simply wanted to stage a spectacle and mislead people. That was probably what happened. Because after a few days of media hype about it, we saw nothing else. They wanted to intimidate us and prove to ordinary people that it was supposedly dangerous to deal with us. But they failed: our attacks continue, and the number of our activists continues to grow every day.

RL: Your recruitment system is considered a success. How did you come up with the idea of using CTF and rewarding the winners with cryptocurrencies? Do you have an approximate number of players worldwide who participate in your challenges?

NM: About motivation and reward: we believe that true motivation is based on beliefs, patriotism, for example, and a sense of justice. But ideas alone are not enough, so our DDoSia Project has its own internal currency tied to cryptocurrencies. With it, our volunteers can receive rewards for their activity in our project. Regarding the number of our cyberforces, we will respond with a favorite quote from the classic Russian poet Alexander Blok: «Millions are with you. We have darkness, and darkness, and darkness. Try to fight us!»

RL: In the case of CTF, economic rewards are offered. In Europe, people wonder where the funds come from. Is there any form of crowdfunding?

NM: Each of us has our own capital, and we want to spend some of these funds on something real and contribute to history. Many of us work in quite ordinary jobs. You can probably find anyone in our ranks, from a professor to a dock worker. Because for us, everyone is important.

RL: A few months ago, you became part of the Holly League. How has this alliance affected your operational potential?

NM: In fact, we are one of the organizers of the Holly League union. The groups that make up this alliance are united by one global goal. They gathered very quickly, all sharing the same thoughts, all in the fight against the Deep State and the collective West. At the right moment, we quickly unite into one fist and strike at our common enemies.

RL: This alliance includes the Cyber Army of Russia, which the community associates with Sandworm from the 74455 unit. Does this mean that the Russian government supports Noname057?

NM: We have not seen any activity from the «Cyber Army of Russia» you mentioned in a long time; it is possible that it no longer exists. Our task is to inflict maximum damage on the enemy. The conclusions of foreign cyber experts, who see the KGB of the USSR everywhere, amuse us, nothing more.

RL: And finally, if the war ended tomorrow with Russia’s victory, would you stop your attacks?

NM: This is a good question that we ask ourselves. The fact is that recently people and communities from different countries have started contacting us for support and help. For example, Europeans, whom their governments openly disdain. We want to help restore justice around the world and side with the weak and oppressed. This is our ultimate goal.