Ransomware

In a major international police operation, law enforcement agencies have successfully dismantled the infamous LockBit cybercriminal group, hailed as one of the most dangerous hacking organizations worldwide.

Ηundreds of files containing sensitive data stolen from the University of the Aegean by the cybercriminal group Lockbit earlier this year were published on the dark web on November 27.

Authorities have initiated an investigation following a ransomware attack on the Hellenic Public Properties Company (ETAD), Kathimerini understands. The cyberattack was discovered on November 8.

The research shows a prevalence of cyberattacks targeting critical online infrastructure, services and computers. Inadequate public awareness and cybersecurity policies, and limited regional collaboration, have exacerbated the challenges the Balkan countries face in combating cybercrime.

Experts see raising awareness among members of the public as vital to minimising the impact of such scams, but, said Adis Balota, a professor at the Faculty of Information Technologies in Podgorica, "alone this will not solve the cyber security problem".

Greece's Supreme Court Public Prosecutor Isidoros Dogiakos ordered an investigation into a cyber-attack on the data bank providing the school exam questions, with the assistance of the Police's Cyber Crime Unit.

Perpetrator still unknown

The attacks of August 22 last year compromised a string of public services, including the websites of the government and the Revenue and Customs Administration.

According to the Ministry of Public Administration, 17 "information systems" in 10 institutions were infected, with 150 computer directly affected.

Encrypted folders with stolen information from Open University of Cyprus may be available on the dark web, where data brokers and identity thieves can now buy access to private information of students and staff after the institution failed to pay ransom.

The notorious Medusa ransomware gang is asking for $100,000 from the Open University of Cyprus following a cyberattack on the institution's digital platforms, with data samples already leaked online to prove they are not kidding. 

A polling station in Montenegrin capital Podgorica on the parliamentary elections on August 2020.Photo: BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

CIRT is a unit within the Ministry of Public Administration engaged in the handling of information security incidents within the IP address space.