Homeland Justice, an Iranian hacker group, has attacked the website of the Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT).
In a statement posted on social media, the group announced that it had successfully hacked the website instat.gov.al.
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This is not the first time that Homeland Justice has targeted Albanian institutions.
Earlier, on December 25, the Albanian Parliament confirmed that it had been attacked, with an attempt to breach its infrastructure to delete data. On the same day, the group claimed responsibility for an attack on a cellular company operating in Albania.
While today INSTAT responded promptly and professionally to prevent and minimize potential damages from the attack. The institute immediately disconnected internet connections and activated emergency protocols to ensure the protection of data and statistical information.
Currently, initial examinations by IT experts indicate that some of INSTAT's systems have been affected by the attack.
INSTAT's immediate response includes seeking assistance from national cybersecurity experts who are pooling their resources to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack. The main objectives include identifying the root causes of the attack, assessing the extent of the damage, and devising effective solutions to mitigate future risks.
INSTAT assures the public that Census data is not the target of this attack, as it is stored in separate systems dedicated solely for this purpose.
INSTAT is closely cooperating with relevant authorities to investigate and identify the source and motives behind the cyberattack. Additionally, efforts are underway to restore the normal functioning of its information systems and strengthen cybersecurity measures.
The institute expresses gratitude to the public for understanding and the support shown during this extraordinary situation. INSTAT highly values the trust of citizens and partners in its work and is committed to continuing to provide reliable, accurate, and independent official statistics, as stated in the announcement.