Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), revealed on Monday that the social media platform suffered multiple outages due to a large-scale cyber attack. According to Musk, the attack was far more extensive and coordinated than the daily threats the platform typically faces.

Why is X down? Elon Musk blames a cyber attack

Users around the world reported problems accessing X, with thousands of complaints logged on Downdetector, a website that tracks service outages. The disruptions were particularly severe in countries such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, with thousands of users experiencing problems loading tweets, sending messages, and accessing their feeds.

In response to the outage, Musk posted:

There was (still is) a massive cyberattack against 𝕏.

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.

Tracing …

How long did the X outage last?

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According to Downdetector, X experienced four separate outages in the U.S. alone on Monday, beginning at 5:00 AM ET (9:00 GMT). The largest spike in reported issues occurred at 10:00 AM ET (15:00 GMT), with nearly 40,000 users reporting problems.

Each outage lasted approximately 45 minutes, with intermittent service returning before another failure occurred. While the platform appeared to stabilize, users continued to report issues throughout the day, particularly with direct messages failing to load.

Who is behind the cyberattack on X?

Musk suggested that the scale and sophistication of the attack indicate the involvement of either a well-funded cybercriminal organization or even a nation-state.

Since Musk acquired X, the platform has faced numerous technical issues and cyber threats. However, this latest attack stands out due to its size and impact. While cyber attacks on major tech platforms are not uncommon, Musk’s statement raises questions about whether this particular incident is part of a larger, organized effort to disrupt the platform.

What should X users do now?

For users still experiencing problems on X, here are some troubleshooting steps:

• Check Downdetector to confirm if the issue is widespread.
• Try refreshing the page or logging in from another device.
• Be cautious of phishing scams or unusual activity, as cyber attacks can sometimes lead to security breaches.