Hackers brought down several public NATO websites in what appears to be the latest escalation in cyberspace over growing tensions over Crimea. The Western military alliance's spokeswoman, Oana Lungescu, said on Twitter that the cyber attacks, which began on Saturday evening, continued on Sunday, although most services were eventually restored. 'It doesn't impede our ability to command and control our forces. At no time was there any risk to our classified networks,' another NATO official said. NATO's main public website (www.nato.int), which carried a statement by Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen saying that Sunday's referendum on Crimea's status would violate international law and lack legitimacy, worked intermittently.
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Ukrainian hacktivist group claiming responsibility for bringing down several public NATO sites at the weekend
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'Cyber Berkut' say they did it in an act of protect against Western powers
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A secession vote tomorrow will determine whether Crimea will be handed over to Russia
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Cyber attacks from both sides have escalated over the last few weeks as the crisis in the area continues
@placeholder and Russian websites have both been targets for cyber attacks in recent weeks but this appeared the first major attack on a Western website since the crisis began.