CubaHeadlines

Mass Email Campaign Disrupts Cuban State System: Over 20,000 Messages Sent by Hackers

Sunday, July 13, 2025 by Aaron Delgado

A mass email campaign commemorating the significant protests against the Cuban government on July 11, 2021, was launched this past Friday, targeting over 20,000 users within the state-run system. The official Cuban media have condemned this as an act of "digital provocation" and "destabilization." The message, disseminated through Cubana de Aviación's server and signed by a "Cuban entity committed to truth, dignity, and justice," calls for the immediate release of political prisoners, justice for incarcerated protesters, and full respect for human rights.

The email states, "July 11 is not the past. It is the present. And it will be the future," and was distributed among users at institutions such as the Technological University of Havana (CUJAE), state enterprises Softel and Desoft, and numerous accounts linked to Joven Club de Computación and national navigation services like Nauta. The sender's address, "venta_online@cubanaonline.com," mimics legitimate institutional emails, suggesting a potential spoofing strategy to bypass internal filters.

The email's content quickly spread across social media platforms and via screenshots, prompting reactions of solidarity as well as warnings within the state system. The pro-government platform, Razones de Cuba, labeled the incident as part of a "foreign-funded attempt" to commemorate the July 11 events with "hatred and subversion," claiming it is a coordinated effort to reignite the unrest that shook the nation in 2021. According to the regime's media, authorities are investigating the origin and scope of what they consider to be "a new attack on the country's stability."

Context of Digital Tensions in Cuba

This event unfolds amidst heightened monitoring by Cuban authorities of institutional communication networks, who frequently warn of a "media war" allegedly waged from abroad to undermine the regime. Nonetheless, the breach highlights ongoing weaknesses in the state's control over electronic channels.

Thus far, there has been no public identification of those responsible for the mass email, nor have any disciplinary actions been announced against employees of the impacted entities. This incident follows a recent pattern of cyberattacks on Cuban government platforms. In January, the official account of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X was hacked to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency, exposing further digital security shortcomings.

In previous years, cyberactivist groups like Anonymous Cuba have targeted sites such as the University of Guantánamo, posting messages visually linked to the July 11 protests.

Understanding the July 11 Email Campaign

What was the purpose of the mass email sent to Cuban state users?

The email aimed to commemorate the July 11, 2021, protests in Cuba, demanding the release of political prisoners, justice for protestors, and full respect for human rights.

How did the Cuban government react to the email campaign?

The Cuban government condemned the email as an act of "digital provocation" and "destabilization," claiming it was part of a foreign-funded effort to incite unrest.

Has the Cuban government identified the perpetrators of the email campaign?

As of now, the government has not publicly identified those responsible for the email campaign, nor have they announced any measures against affected entities' employees.

© CubaHeadlines 2025