Lithuania's Interior Ministry reports cyberattack on its information system

Lithuania's Interior Ministry has reported a cyberattack on its information system, according to a report by Ukrinform based on LRT's coverage. The ministry alerted law enforcement to the incident, which saw unauthorized access to the EPEKIS information system. This system, primarily used for archival purposes, contained data on foreign nationals applying for Lithuanian citizenship, among other records.

Despite the breach, the ministry stated that certain datasets were generated but no evidence suggests the attackers downloaded any data. Authorities promptly blocked the unauthorized access. The incident has prompted a security review of all information systems and databases under the ministry's purview. The Criminal Police Bureau, the State Data Protection Inspectorate, and the National Cyber Security Centre have been informed.

Lithuania's Interior Minister, Mr. Katelinas, noted the possibility of artificial intelligence being used in the attack, a possibility he did not rule out. In May, the Prosecutor General's Office reported an unauthorized access to over 600,000 records in the Real Estate Register, including personal identification numbers, which was traced back to compromised employee accounts linked to the Migration Department.

Lithuania, like other countries in the region and its allies, is aware of the potential for hybrid attacks by Russia, as stated by Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys.