Introduction
Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has faced a major X outage, causing disruptions for millions of users worldwide. Over the past two days, the platform has suffered multiple downtimes, leading to frustration and speculation about the cause. While Elon Musk has blamed a large-scale cyberattack, a hacker group named “Dark Storm Team” has claimed responsibility. This X outage has raised serious concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities and the potential involvement of state-backed actors.
Timeline of the X Outages
March 10, 2025: First X Outage Reported
On March 10, at around 10 a.m. ET, X outage reports surged, with over 39,000 users in the U.S. unable to access the platform, according to Downdetector. By 5 p.m., the number of affected users had reduced to around 1,500. However, the platform remained unstable throughout the day.
Elon Musk addressed the issue via a post on X, stating:
“We get attacked every day, but this was done with a lot of resources. Either a large, coordinated group and/or a country is involved.”
Cybersecurity experts, however, questioned Musk’s claim, pointing out that DDoS attacks (Distributed Denial-of-Service), which flood websites with rogue traffic to overwhelm servers, can be executed by small hacker groups rather than state actors.
March 11, 2025: Second and Third X Outages
The X outage continued the following day. At 3:30 PM, users started reporting another X outage, with approximately 2,500 complaints logged on Downdetector. Later, at 7:30 PM, a third wave of X outages occurred, with about 1,300 reports.
According to Downdetector, at the peak of the second wave, over 40,000 users faced issues:
- 60% had trouble accessing the X app.
- 29% encountered website access issues.
- 11% reported server connection errors.
Who Is Behind the Cyberattack on X?
Musk’s Accusation of a Large-Scale Attack
In an interview with Fox Business Network’s Larry Kudlow, Musk claimed that the cyberattack behind the X outage originated from IP addresses located in the “Ukraine area.” However, a source from the internet infrastructure industry disputed this claim, stating that most of the rogue traffic came from the U.S., Vietnam, Brazil, and other countries, with Ukraine’s contribution being “insignificant.”
Musk’s statement comes amid his tense relationship with Ukraine. He recently stated that the country’s front lines “would collapse” without Starlink satellite communications, though he assured that access would not be cut off.
Hacker Group Dark Storm Team Claims Responsibility
A hacker group named “Dark Storm Team” has allegedly claimed responsibility for the X outage. According to a post on Telegram, the group executed a DDoS attack, overwhelming X’s servers with excessive traffic, leading to the platform’s failure.
However, no official confirmation has directly linked the attack to the group, and cybersecurity experts warn that tracing the perpetrators behind DDoS attacks is difficult.
Impact of the X Outage on Users and Businesses
Global User Frustration
The X outage left users worldwide unable to access their accounts, post updates, or engage with content. The most affected countries included:
- United States: 57% of users experienced app issues, 34% faced website problems, and 9% reported server errors.
- United Kingdom: 61% reported app failures, 34% encountered website issues, and 5% had server-related problems.
Many users turned to platforms like Reddit and Facebook to discuss the X outage, with some speculating whether the issue was an internal failure rather than a cyberattack.
Businesses Affected
For many businesses, X serves as a primary communication channel for marketing, customer service, and real-time updates. The X outage impacted:
- E-commerce brands that rely on X for promotions and customer interactions.
- Media companies that use the platform for breaking news updates.
- Influencers and content creators who depend on X for engagement and monetization.
Cybersecurity Experts Weigh In
Cybersecurity professionals remain cautious about Musk’s claims. Many argue that while the attack was significant, attributing it to a nation-state without strong evidence is speculative.
The Challenge of DDoS Attacks
DDoS attacks, while disruptive, are easier to execute than other cyber threats like ransomware or data breaches. Hackers often use botnets—networks of infected devices—to launch attacks, making it difficult to trace the actual source.
Preventing Future X Outages
Given the increasing frequency of cyberattacks on social media platforms, here are some recommended measures:
- Stronger DDoS Protection: Implementing advanced filtering and mitigation systems to block rogue traffic.
- Enhanced Server Infrastructure: Using cloud-based scaling solutions to handle high-traffic loads.
- User Authentication Measures: Deploying AI-driven fraud detection systems to monitor unusual access patterns.
- Transparency and Crisis Management: Keeping users informed with real-time updates and clear incident reports.
What’s Next for X?
With three major X outages in two days, concerns about the platform’s cybersecurity resilience are growing. If Musk’s claims of a “large-scale cyberattack” hold true, X may need to reassess its security framework to prevent future disruptions.
As investigations continue, both users and businesses will be looking for assurances that such incidents will be minimized in the future.
Conclusion
The recent X outages have exposed vulnerabilities in even the most widely used social media platforms. While Elon Musk’s claims of a large-scale cyberattack have drawn skepticism, the alleged involvement of Dark Storm Team suggests that X was indeed targeted.
As cybersecurity threats continue to evolve, businesses and users must remain vigilant. Whether this incident was part of a broader geopolitical agenda or merely an opportunistic hacker group remains to be seen. One thing is clear—X must enhance its security measures to maintain user trust and platform stability.
For now, the world watches as X navigates another major controversy under Musk’s leadership.
