Non-State Actor Appears to Be Behind Cyberattack on US Websites - Intelligence

A non-state actor was likely behind the cyberattacks on major US websites, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence head said.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — A non-state actor was likely behind the cyberattack against major US-based websites on Friday, Office of the Director of National Intelligence head James Clapper said.

"That appears to be preliminary the case, a non-state actor," Clapper stated at the Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday, when asked who was behind the attack. "The investigation is still going on."

Websites of prominent companies including social-messaging platform Twitter, online retailer Amazon.com and streaming-music service Spotify were shut down for several hours on Friday, disabling their services to customers.

The US Department of Homeland Security said it was looking into all potential causes of the attack.

After the incidents, whistleblowing website WikiLeaks addressed its supporters asking them to stop targeting "the US internet" with hacking attacks.

Last week, the Ecuadorian Embassy in London said it had shut off the website founder Julian Assange's Internet access due to WikiLeaks publishing materials that affect the US presidential election. WikiLeaks said on Monday that Assange's Internet link was intentionally cut off by a state party.