Science-Technology

Bulgaria: Cyberattack targets premier, top officials

Data of 5 million people were seized by cyber criminals, says Bulgarian National Revenue Agency

Ihvan Radoykov  | 23.07.2019 - Update : 24.07.2019
Bulgaria: Cyberattack targets premier, top officials

SOFIA

A cyberattack in Bulgaria targeted the country's prime minister and other top officials, an official said on Tuesday.

According to Bulgarian National Revenue Agency (NAP) on July 15, data of 5 million people were seized by cyber criminals on June 29.

Speaking on Bulgarian National TV BNT, Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Ivan Geshev on Tuesday said the computer of cyber expert Kristiyan Boykov, who was previously arrested and released, was searched.

Geshev said Boykov could be held responsible for the attack and the latter was working at a cyber security company named TAD Group, which was collecting classified information to blackmail people for money.

"The cyber criminals searched information about Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Chief Public Prosecutor Sotir Tzatzarov," Geshev said.

He said apart from stolen data from NAP, the search on the computer also revealed that the suspect made search on one of the richest people in Bulgaria and lawmaker Delyan Peevski and EU parliamentarian Emil Radev.

Geshev said the suspect also created files on Peevski and Radev.

"We have reached to terrifying information. We are still at the beginning," Geshev added.

Suspect Boykov had previously rejected all allegations against him.

* Writing by Fatih Hafiz Mehmet

Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.