TIRANA, July 29 /ATA/ – By I.Vata/- Deputy Prime Minister, Belinda Balluku, the director of the National Agency for Information Society, Linda Karcanaj, and representative of Microsoft’s special team for cyber security, Kevin Chin, in a press conference disclosed details about the massive attack on the IT systems, the work done to restore services to normality, as well as the measures taken for the future.
In her remarks, Balluku said that this is the first public communication following the massive cyber attack that has worried not only Albanians but also our partners and allies.
Balluku emphasized that this aggression is a genuine war, from which we will continue to defend ourselves despite the fact that some of the systems have recovered.
“We will continue to keep the whole situation in check and what is most important is that the systems are recovering, the systems are being restored to normal. However, we will continue to be on high alert,” she said.
“I want to inform you about the steps taken by the government. Meanwhile yesterday there was another meeting of the Committee for Cyber Protection and a series of assignments were given for all stakeholders in the security field and decisions were taken to be implemented going forward as well as for the cooperation we will have with allies and technicians, as in the case of Microsoft, which has provided support. We have to mention the involvement of the CIA, which has given us support from the first day or other intelligence services”, she emphasized.
Balluku said that, “the cyber attack was massive, but due to the preparation of the staff who are part of NAIS and I avail myself of the opportunity to thank all the boys and girls who have contributed, of course, under the supervision and care of Mrs. Karçanaj, but also all other employees of the administration who today, also because of this experience, are undoubtedly more sensitive than ever to a war that we will start to get used to. Cyber war is undoubtedly the weapon that is being used today to bring states, companies or even more widely to their knees.”
“Thank you so much Kevin. The presence of the Microsoft DART team has been vital for us. Undoubtedly, we have boys and girls who are very much prepared, this has been one of the evaluations we have received from the Jones Group, which I take the opportunity to thank for the support at this time like no other, but also an appreciation that came from the Microsoft team. On the staff of NAIS, there are capable girls and boys who can undoubtedly rise to such challenges. But, on the other hand, as we said, it is a matter of a massive attack and a real cyber aggression. At the exchanges with the specialists, they confirmed that behind the cyber attack was a well-structured group of hackers.”
/sm/
