A large-scale cyberattack originating from outside Slovakia’s borders attacked the information systems of the Geodetic, Mapping and Cadastral Agency of the Slovak Republic (UGKK).
UGKK is used by the cadastral department to record and manage information about land and property.
All systems were shut down in response to this incident.
Slovakia’s Interior Ministry acknowledged the attack on January 8 and announced that from January 9, Cadastral Office offices would be closed or open on a limited basis.
The Home Office said the case was being handled by the Organized Crime Unit.
Slovak politician criticizes Ukraine
Slovak news agency Teraz.sk reported on January 10 that at a press conference after a meeting of the Extraordinary Security Council of the Slovak Republic, Agriculture Minister Richard Takács said the attack was suspected to have originated from Ukraine. said.
Pavlina Pavlova, a Slovakian cyber policy expert and New America Fellow, told InfoSecurity that while the Slovak government is politicizing the attack, the public’s biggest concern at this point is to quickly restore the system. He said that.
The comments by Slovakia’s political representatives come amid a dispute over gas supplies to Ukraine, which on January 1 suspended gas supplies from Russia to EU member states via its landmass. Ta. On January 8, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Roberto Fico was reported to have given security assurances. an agreement with Russia to supply gas to the country;
“Details about the perpetrators have not been disclosed, but government representatives, including the prime minister, have compared the cyberattack on Slovakia’s land registry with attacks on Russia and talked about possible Ukrainian traces as a key investigation angle.” said Pavlova. .
Takács said at a press conference that similar incidents targeted Russia on January 8 and 9.
A seven-figure ransom was reportedly demanded to restore the system and access encrypted data.
Ivan Ivantin, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Information Technology, said at a press conference that all data has been backed up and there is no risk of changing or unauthorized posting of ownership data.
UGKK said it will continue to provide updated information on its website. Physical offices are scheduled to reopen on a limited basis on January 13th.
The biggest cyberattack in Slovakia’s history
Takács told a press conference that the attack was the largest in Slovak history.
Various facilities that rely on land registry data to provide services are reported to have been disrupted.
“The impact is already being felt seriously among the population,” Pavlova said.
“Ransomware attacks have disrupted the operations of local governments and all those who rely on land registry data to deliver public services. The real estate and mortgage market has been paralyzed, real estate transactions have stalled and purchases have been disrupted. has been delayed and some related public services, such as the issuance of parking permits in Bratislava, are no longer available.
She urged the government to focus on complete recovery and timely information to the public in the emergency that this large-scale disruption is sure to cause.
European law firm Kinstella pointed out that this cyber attack will have a major impact on domestic real estate services.
Takács said the incident does not affect the property of ordinary people in Slovakia.
Pavlova explained to the European Parliament in 2024 that public administrations are among the main targets of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, which have intensified since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
“The deliberate targeting of critical civilian infrastructure vital to the population has also significantly changed the cross-border security environment between the two warring countries. Both the spillover effects on uninvolved civilians undermine the norms-based international order,” she commented.
