On July 15, a cyberattack temporarily shut down numerous Albanian government digital services and websites. Rama said an investigation determined that the cyberattack wasn’t carried out by individuals or independent groups, calling it “state aggression.” “The deep investigation put at our disposal undeniable evidence that the cyberattack against our country was orchestrated and sponsored by the Republic which had involved four groups for the attack on Albania,” Rama said in a video statement.
Mandiant, a leading U.S. cybersecurity firm, expressed “moderate confidence” last month that the attackers were acting in support of anti-dissident efforts. A group calling itself “HomeLand Justice” claimed credit for the cyberattack that used ransomware to scramble data. Ransomware is best known for its use in for-profit extortion, but is being increasingly wielded for political ends, particularly. The claim by “HomeLand Justice” came on a Telegram channel in which documents purported to be Albanian residence permits of members of the opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq group — best known as MEK — were posted, along with video of the ransomware being activated.
