Ministry of Internal Affairs of Latvia

History

2023: Hacking of IT systems, publication of secret correspondence

Hackers hacked into IT systems MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Latvia and published secret correspondence. This was announced on September 4, 2023. "RIA Novosti

According to the agency, 16 pro-Russian hacker groups reported hacking more than 100 resources, including the Latvian Interior Ministry database. As a result of database hacking, the correspondence of the department, information about employees and the police, financial documents, etc. got into the network. It is clarified that the operation is directed against "accomplices of Ukrainian attacks" on Russia. Hackers claim that 127 information resources of Poland and the Baltic countries were disrupted. In addition, the channels for exchanging official messages of government agencies were paralyzed, parking meters and a mobile banking system were disabled. In a statement, the hackers stressed that they would continue attacks in support of the special operation.

Building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Latvia

We are fighting for Pskov, Crimea and Donbass, - RIA Novosti quotes a statement from hacker groups. The names of the groups are not given.

Earlier in 2023, the Latvian Defense Ministry said that Russian hackers sent fake letters on behalf of Minister Aritis Pabriks. The department claimed that the distribution was carried out through Russian servers.

Letters signed by Pabriks claimed that the minister visited a bar in Staraya Riga on February 16, 2023, where he allegedly took part in "ambiguous entertainment."

I want to thank our cybersecurity specialists from CERT.LV, who very quickly eliminated fake letters and found out that they were sent from the Russian server. I can only guess what I deserved such "attention" - a critical interview with the Russian radio station Echo of Moscow or "too active" work at the Munich Security Conference, Pabriks said.

The ministry regards the sending of letters as an operation to fake identity in order to find out from which IP addresses these letters were opened.^[1]

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