December 28, 2023 at 02:06PM
Albania’s Parliament confirmed a cyberattack on its data system, resulting in a temporary service halt. The attack did not compromise the system’s data, but experts are investigating potential consequences. Iranian-based hackers allegedly targeted other entities. This incident follows a previous cyberattack that led to severed diplomatic ties with Iran. The exiled Iranian opposition group MEK denies involvement.
The meeting notes highlight a recent cyberattack on Albania’s Parliament, with the hackers attempting to breach the data system. The attack resulted in a temporary halt in the system’s services, although the data was reportedly unaffected. The alleged cyberattacks also targeted a cellphone provider and an air flight company, reportedly attributed to Iranian-based hackers called Homeland Justice, though not independently verified.
This incident is not the first of its kind, as Albania previously suffered a cyberattack in July 2022, which the government and multinational technology companies attributed to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The attack was believed to be in retaliation for Albania sheltering members of the Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK), leading the government to cut diplomatic relations with Iran.
In response, the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied involvement and noted Iran’s own experiences with cyberattacks from the MEK. The situation has further escalated, with Albanian authorities raiding a camp for exiled MEK members, seizing computer devices allegedly linked to prohibited political activities.
The United States, NATO, and the European Union have expressed support for Albania in the dispute, while the MEK’s media spokesperson has denied any connection between the reported cyberattacks and the group’s activities in Albania. Furthermore, the related articles highlight the ongoing tensions and geopolitical implications arising from these cyber incidents.