In a concerning development, Norwegian authorities reported a cyber attack against 12 government ministries on July 24. The attack's origin remains unknown, sparking a police investigation and raising questions about the country's cybersecurity defenses.
The incident came to light when workers in the affected ministries discovered unusual disruptions in their computer systems and network services. The Norwegian Data Protection Authority was promptly notified, and an investigation was launched to identify the source and extent of the breach.
Erik Hope, the director of the Norwegian ministries' security and service organization, released a statement revealing that the cyber attackers exploited a previously unknown vulnerability in the software provided by one of their suppliers. However, Hope reassured the public that the vulnerability had been identified and closed to prevent further access.‘
"We have uncovered a previously unknown vulnerability in the software of one of our suppliers. This vulnerability has been exploited by an unknown actor. We have now closed this vulnerability. It is too early to say anything about who is behind it and the scale of the attack. Our investigations and the police's investigation will be able to provide more answers," Erik Hope stated.
As a result of the attack, workers in the 12 affected ministries faced disruptions in their mobile services, including access to email. However, authorities have stated that the government's work is continuing as usual, thanks to contingency plans and separate platforms in place for critical ministries like the Prime Minister's services, defense, foreign affairs, and justice.
This incident is not the first time Norway's governmental bodies have faced cyber threats. In both 2020 and 2021, the Norwegian Parliament was targeted in computer attacks, with at least one of these attacks being attributed to Russian hackers. This history of cyberattacks on important institutions raises concerns about the nation's overall cybersecurity infrastructure and readiness to counter such threats.
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