All online public services and government websites in Albania were closed on Sunday following a synchronized cyberattack from outside the country, the Albanian National Agency for the Information Society (AKSHI) said in a press statement.
“To counter these unprecedented and dangerous attacks, we have been forced to shut down government systems until enemy attacks are neutralized,” the statement said.
According to AKSHI, the agency has been forced to shut down official websites of the government, including the website of the Prime Minister’s Office of the country’s parliament, as well as the government portal e-Albania, which is used by all Albanians and foreigners. goes. Residents for public services.
“The National Agency is currently working closely with Microsoft team, Jones Group International team, and teams of Albanian companies in the ICT sector to prevent this cyber attack from harming or compromising the Albanian information system,” the statement added.
As of 1 May, the Albanian government has decided to close most civil state offices across the country, which provide many services and documents to citizens, giving the government online portal e-Albania this major role.
Last month, a cyber attack temporarily knocked out Public and private websites in Norway.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said that to his knowledge there was “no significant damage” from the attack.
The Norwegian National Security Authority revealed that a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack targeted a secure national data network, leading to the temporary suspension of online services for several hours following the incident.
NSM chief Sophie Nistram said a pro-Russian criminal group was behind the cyber attack. He said the attacks “give the impression that we are a piece in the current political situation in Europe.”
This comes two days after the recent cyber attack on Norway similar attack A pro-Moscow hacker group reportedly temporarily shut down public and private websites in Lithuania, claiming responsibility.