A threat actor known as Dark Hell 07x, in coordination with Joker 07x and Dr. Shell 08x, has claimed responsibility for a cyber operation against Hassiba Ben Bouali University in Chlef, Algeria (univ-chlef.dz). The group asserts it breached backend systems and harvested credential data in a strategic, rather than destructive, display of capability.
Dark Hell 07x is a politically motivated hacktivist group. The group frames this action as a warning to institutional entities rather than a financially driven attack. Their public statements suggest the operation was intended to expose weaknesses in academic infrastructure and provoke change.
Based on the message posted to on their Telegram channel:
- The attackers say they compromised all backend access points and server zones without detection.
- They claim to have exfiltrated login credentials (faculty, student, and staff accounts), system files, and academic records.
- Screenshots and system summaries were shared as “proof,” along with hints at forthcoming broader disclosure if demands aren’t met.
Hassiba Ben Bouali University is a major Algerian institution with 9 faculties and institutes, offering over 75 business administration programs and 112 master’s specializations. The attack, if real, threatens:
- Confidential academic and administrative data
- User account integrity and identity risk
- Disruption to educational delivery and student services
Such an incident would spotlight the cybersecurity gaps in Algeria’s higher education sector, which has increasingly become attractive to cyber threat actors.
Possible Implications
Although the breach remains unverified, the nature of the claimed exposure suggests serious risks:
- Potential account takeover, if credentials are valid or reused
- Data privacy violations, exposing personal info of students and faculty
- Operational disruption or defacement of academic services
- Damage to institutional trust and increased security scrutiny
CyHawk Africa Advisory
Institutions across Africa, especially in university networks, are encouraged to act proactively:
- Conduct vulnerability and penetration testing on web portals and backend systems
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) and enforce strict access controls
- Monitor dark web forums and threat actor chatter for leaks involving academic domains
- Train IT staff and faculty on phishing, lateral movement, and intrusion detection
About CyHawk Africa
CyHawk Africa is Africa’s open-source cyber threat intelligence platform dedicated to tracking, documenting, and exposing digital threats targeting individuals, organizations, and key sectors across the continent.
Disclaimer
This article is based on claims published by threat actors in underground forums and does not confirm a verified breach. CyHawk Africa does not assert that any institution’s systems were actually compromised unless independently confirmed. Content is provided for informational and awareness purposes only, not as a legal or technical confirmation of any incident.