Albania Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) breached, attack claimed by Iran-linked group

The Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) in Albania experienced a sophisticated cyberattack on its systems, confirmed by the institute. While the attack did impact some of INSTAT's systems, it did not affect the systems used for the 2013 census.

INSTAT has reassured the public that the data from the 2023 Census was not compromised during this cyber incident. No details are disclosed about the nature of the attack or any data compromise.

INSTAT's technical team immediately implemented emergency protocols to safeguard data and mitigate further damage. They remain committed to continuing its statistical activities and has advised the public to use alternative communication means, including a specific email address and official social media channels on Instagram and Facebook, during the recovery period.

INSTAT is actively working towards restoring normal operations with the assistance of Albania’s cyber agency (AKCESK) and state police.

The attack has been claimed by the Iran-linked hacking group Homeland Justice, which alleges to have stolen over 100 Terabytes of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and census data from INSTAT. The group has threatened to utilize the stolen data in their campaign against the Albanian government, criticizing Albania's statistical policies and military actions.