The social media platform X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, experienced a series of significant technical failures on Monday, March 10. According to Musk, the issues were caused by a large-scale cyberattack, with indications of traffic originating from Ukraine. The instability affected users globally, sparking a wave of speculation about the platform’s security.
According to DownDetector, a website that monitors digital service outages, the first reports of instability appeared around 7 a.m. (Brasilia Time). The number of affected users quickly rose, reaching an initial peak of 20,538 complaints. The issue seemed temporarily resolved, but by 11 a.m., nearly 40,000 users reported new problems, making the disruption one of the most severe of the year for the platform. By 1:30 p.m., there were still around 26,000 reports of difficulties accessing X.
Many users reported that the app simply wouldn’t load, while others encountered intermittent errors when trying to post or view content. According to DownDetector, the outage had a global reach, with reports from various countries. The failure impacted users in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, suggesting a large-scale problem. However, since the data is based on user reports, it may not reflect the full extent of the instability.
In addition to the complaints on DownDetector, the problem sparked a flood of posts on social media. Users turned to other platforms like Reddit and Telegram to discuss the failure and speculate about its possible causes. Companies that use X for customer service and marketing also reported negative impacts, with some businesses struggling to respond to customers and share updates.
During an interview with Fox Business, Elon Musk confirmed suspicions of a coordinated attack. “We’re not exactly sure what happened,” he said. “But there was a massive cyberattack trying to bring down the X system, with IP addresses originating from the Ukraine region.” Despite the claim, Musk did not provide technical details or conclusive proof about the attack’s origin.
Cybersecurity experts warn that IP addresses can be masked, making traffic appear to come from a specific region when it may actually originate elsewhere. Therefore, it remains unclear whether the attack truly came from Ukraine or if hackers used camouflage techniques to obscure their location. Some theories suggest hacker groups may have exploited vulnerabilities in X’s system, while others indicate that the attack could be a response to the platform’s controversial policies.
In a post on X itself, Musk stated that he believes “a large and coordinated group and/or a country is involved,” suggesting the possibility of a government-sponsored attack. However, no concrete evidence has been presented to support this hypothesis. CNN attempted to contact X’s team, but as usual, the company did not respond to requests for comment.
Since acquiring X (formerly known as Twitter) in 2022, Musk has implemented a series of radical changes to the platform, including deep staff cuts. Shortly after the purchase, he fired the company’s top executives and, a few days later, reduced the workforce by 3,500 employees, which represented about half of the staff at the time. Further cuts followed, totaling 80% of the company’s original workforce.
In addition to the layoffs, Musk required the remaining employees to return to full-time in-person work, abandoning the remote work policy previously adopted. These structural changes have raised concerns about the platform’s security and stability, as many teams responsible for maintaining system integrity were drastically reduced. Some former employees warned that cuts in engineering and cybersecurity could leave X vulnerable to cyberattacks and instability.
The restructuring also led to the departure of key advertisers, concerned about the platform’s new moderation policies and its ability to maintain a safe environment for users and brands. Since then, Musk has promoted various changes to the user experience, including the introduction of paid subscriptions and a greater focus on content creators, but continues to face challenges in stabilizing the company’s revenue.
The impact of X’s instability also extended to the financial market. On Monday, shares of Tesla, another company under Musk’s control, experienced a significant drop of up to 12% during the noon trading session. This decline wiped out gains made since the election of Donald Trump in November 2024. Analysts point out that investors are increasingly concerned about how Musk divides his attention among his multiple ventures, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X.
The volatility of Tesla’s stock has been a cause for concern for shareholders, especially given the challenges facing the automotive industry, such as the growing competition from Chinese automakers and high production costs. Meanwhile, SpaceX continues to advance with ambitious projects, such as the development of the Starship rocket, which aims to send humans to Mars. However, Musk’s reliance on himself to lead these initiatives raises questions about his ability to manage multiple high-risk ventures simultaneously.
As investigations into the alleged cyberattack continue, experts point out that X may face even greater challenges in the future, especially if more robust security measures aren’t implemented to protect the platform from new threats. The recent instability highlights the fragility of the company’s digital infrastructure and reignites debates about the importance of maintaining specialized teams to defend against cyberattacks.
The instability at X and Elon Musk’s allegations of a massive cyberattack highlight the challenges the platform has faced since his acquisition. Although the exact origin of the attack remains unclear, the incident raises concerns about the security of the social network and its ability to withstand future attacks. Additionally, the drastic changes implemented by Musk, including significant cuts to the security and engineering teams, may have weakened the company’s infrastructure, making it more vulnerable to such threats.
The crisis’s impact also reflected in the financial market, with a sharp decline in Tesla’s stock, increasing uncertainty about the future of the companies under Musk’s leadership. In light of this, it remains to be seen whether X will be able to reinforce its cybersecurity defenses and regain the trust of users and investors. Meanwhile, experts continue to monitor the case, warning about the increasing sophistication of digital attacks and the need for more robust strategies to ensure the stability of online platforms.
