Security News > 2022 > July > Albanian government websites go dark after cyberattack

Albania's online public services and websites have gone dark following what appears to be a cyberattack.

According to a statement from the Albanian National Agency for Information Society, the websites of the Prime Minister's Office and Parliament have both been pulled as has, critically, the e-Albania portal used by residents and foreigners alike to access public services.

The latter is particularly alarming since the Albanian government closed many in-person services in favor of the e-Albania portal in May 2022.

Albanian media reported that the attack was detected on Friday, and bore some resemblance to those carried out in Ukraine and Germany.

"Oliver Pinson-Roxburgh, CEO of Defense.com, commented:"The large-scale cyberattack that took down the Albanian government's digital services illustrates the high stakes at play in our digital and connected world.

"The vital government services that Albanians rely upon, from healthcare to tax have all been affected, with significant consequences for vulnerable people. The fact that the digital infrastructure of an entire country can be attacked and disrupted should serve as a stark warning for businesses. Such attacks have the potential to spiral and cause far-reaching consequences. Businesses need to monitor for any spill over into their systems, bringing a defense-in-depth approach that combines everything from monitoring through to employee training." .

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/07/18/albania_down/