DDOS attacks are designed to overwhelm a website or service with excessive traffic, making it difficult for legitimate users to access the platform. The timing of this attack coincided with a highly anticipated joint X Spaces event featuring a conversation between Musk and former President Donald Trump.
The event was scheduled to take place at 8 p.m. Eastern Time and marked Trump's return to the platform after being banned in January 2021. Despite the attack, the conversation proceeded with a reduced number of live listeners. Musk assured users that the full, unedited audio would be posted immediately afterward.
Following the event, Musk speculated that "almost all of the legacy media will trash the Trump conversation, thus driving total listeners probably past 200+ million."
During the conversation, Trump did not mention cryptocurrencies or Musk’s well-known interest in Dogecoin (DOGE). The discussion primarily focused on other topics, including Trump's experiences and views on immigration.
While Trump’s conversation on X did not touch on cryptocurrencies, he has previously expressed his views on Bitcoin and pledged not to sell any of the U.S. Treasury's holdings if elected. Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris has acknowledged the importance of crypto voters by forming an advocacy group called "Crypto for Harris."
As cybersecurity threats continue to challenge online platforms, this incident underscores the need for robust defenses, especially during high-profile events involving influential figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump.