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UK condemns Iran for cyberattack on Albania
The UK condemned Iran on Wednesday (Sep 7) for a cyberattack against Albania’s government that destroyed data and disrupted essential government services, including booking medical appointments and enrolling schoolchildren.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “Iran’s reckless actions showed a blatant disregard for the Albanian people, severely restricting their ability to access essential public services.”
The minister added: “The UK is supporting our valuable partner and NATO ally. We join Albania and other allies in exposing Iran’s unacceptable actions.”
The UK’s National Cyber Security Center said that Iranian state-linked cyber actors are almost certainly responsible for the series of cyberattacks against Albanian government infrastructure from July 15 which caused significant impact to online public services and other government websites.
The websites of the Albanian parliament and the prime minister’s office, as well as a portal that Albanians use to access a number of public services, were attacked and subject to a shut down.
The attackers also leaked Albanian government data, including details of emails from Prime Minister Edi Rama and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Albania cuts ties with Iran, orders diplomats to leave after cyberattack: PM
Iran strongly condemned on Wednesday (Sep 7) Albania’s decision to cut its diplomatic ties with Tehran, rejecting as “baseless claims” Albania's reasons for the move, a statement by the country's foreign ministry said.
Albania severed diplomatic relations with Iran on Wednesday (Sep 7) and kicked out its diplomats after a cyber attack in July it blamed on the Islamic Republic, a move Washington supported as it vowed to take action in response to the attack on its NATO ally.
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