Albania blames Iranian-backed group for cyberattack on its statistical institute

BELGRADE, Serbia

Albania’s cybersecurity authority on Wednesday blamed an Iranian-backed group for carrying out a cyberattack on the first day of the current month, resulting in the deletion of some national data.

The Iranian-backed group known as “Homeland Justice” launched the cyberattack on the Albanian Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) on Feb. 1, the National Electronic Documentation and Cyber Security Institution (AKCESK) said in a statement.

The Albanian cybersecurity authority said: "The cyberattack against INSTAT was carried out by an Iranian-backed group ‘Homeland Justice,’ which has previously carried out cyberattacks in the country."

The institution's experts detected potential threats and scanned the servers affected by the cyberattack, as well as collaborated with their international allies who assisted them, the statement added.

INSTAT was targeted by the Wiper cyberattack, which aimed to delete data and access devices, it said, adding that the virus spread to 40 computers and deleted data on six of them.

Earlier, at the end of 2023, the Albanian parliament was targeted by a similar cyberattack, but no data loss was reported.

The nation in southeastern Europe’s Balkan peninsula experienced similar cyberattacks on its different institutions, including companies providing telecommunication services.

In July and Sep. 2022, the country was targeted by a major cyberattack, which, according to Albanian officials, was “directed and supported by Iran.”

Albania later decided to end diplomatic relations with Iran in response to the cyberattack on its digital infrastructure in Sept. 2022.