Estonia Investigates Youth Online Attacks, 13 Schoolchildren Summoned
Estonian police recently announced that they have identified over 1,600 young people who ordered cyberattack services through online platforms, targeting schools and educational websites. Thirteen schoolchildren have been summoned as criminal suspects and are being investigated, with the aim of correcting their behavior and preventing reoffenses.
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- 📰 Published: April 17, 2026 at 22:06
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(CNA Reporter You Yao-ru, Vilnius, April 17) Estonian police recently stated that they have identified over 1,600 young people who ordered cyberattack services through online platforms, targeting schools and educational websites. Thirteen schoolchildren have been summoned as criminal suspects and are being investigated, with the hope of correcting their behavior and preventing reoffenses.
According to an ERR report on April 16th, Jete Luik, head of the cybercrime department at the Estonian Central Criminal Police, said that cybercrime is gradually becoming "servitized," with some websites offering various attack packages for users to choose from. The purpose is to paralyze the online services of specific institutions or businesses, affecting normal operations. Common targets include banks, hospitals, and government agencies.
Luik pointed out that such attacks are mostly distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which can be launched by paying a fee, and users do not need advanced IT skills.
According to the report, Estonian National Prosecutor Vahur Verte stated that many young people mistakenly believe these attacks are just pranks, but they actually constitute criminal acts that not only disrupt system operations but also cause economic losses and affect a large number of users. He emphasized that regardless of whether the target is a medical institution, a large corporation, or online game players, it is illegal.
According to ERR, law enforcement agencies from 21 countries worldwide jointly launched an crackdown in early April, shutting down 53 websites offering cyberattack services.
Estonian police stated that although no platforms were seized within the country, they confirmed that attack activities originated from Estonia and that there were also cases targeting the country. Police data shows that since 2014, targets have included gaming platforms, school websites, and electronic school systems.
The report indicates that police have identified nearly 1,600 user accounts related to Estonia, some of which only registered accounts, while others actually ordered attack services. Authorities will send warning letters via email to remind relevant users of their legal responsibilities.
Police said that most of the involved individuals are young internet users driven by curiosity, who mistakenly believe that online behavior is anonymous and do not realize the potential legal consequences.
The report states that 13 people have received summonses and are being investigated as suspects for allegedly ordering attack services. Luik said that although criminal proceedings have been initiated, the main purpose is to guide their behavior and prevent reoffenses.
Verte stated that they will provide opportunities for these young people to connect with professionals, guiding them to use their IT skills in legitimate fields. If they can learn from this and cease illegal activities, they may be exempted from criminal punishment in the future. (Editor: Chang Chi-hsuan) 1150417
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According to an ERR report on April 16th, Jete Luik, head of the cybercrime department at the Estonian Central Criminal Police, said that cybercrime is gradually becoming "servitized," with some websites offering various attack packages for users to choose from. The purpose is to paralyze the online services of specific institutions or businesses, affecting normal operations. Common targets include banks, hospitals, and government agencies.
Luik pointed out that such attacks are mostly distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which can be launched by paying a fee, and users do not need advanced IT skills.
According to the report, Estonian National Prosecutor Vahur Verte stated that many young people mistakenly believe these attacks are just pranks, but they actually constitute criminal acts that not only disrupt system operations but also cause economic losses and affect a large number of users. He emphasized that regardless of whether the target is a medical institution, a large corporation, or online game players, it is illegal.
According to ERR, law enforcement agencies from 21 countries worldwide jointly launched an crackdown in early April, shutting down 53 websites offering cyberattack services.
Estonian police stated that although no platforms were seized within the country, they confirmed that attack activities originated from Estonia and that there were also cases targeting the country. Police data shows that since 2014, targets have included gaming platforms, school websites, and electronic school systems.
The report indicates that police have identified nearly 1,600 user accounts related to Estonia, some of which only registered accounts, while others actually ordered attack services. Authorities will send warning letters via email to remind relevant users of their legal responsibilities.
Police said that most of the involved individuals are young internet users driven by curiosity, who mistakenly believe that online behavior is anonymous and do not realize the potential legal consequences.
The report states that 13 people have received summonses and are being investigated as suspects for allegedly ordering attack services. Luik said that although criminal proceedings have been initiated, the main purpose is to guide their behavior and prevent reoffenses.
Verte stated that they will provide opportunities for these young people to connect with professionals, guiding them to use their IT skills in legitimate fields. If they can learn from this and cease illegal activities, they may be exempted from criminal punishment in the future. (Editor: Chang Chi-hsuan) 1150417
Choose to stand with facts. Your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
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Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.