Kosovo to Establish Cybersecurity Agency After Recent Attacks

The cyberattack on Kosovo Telecom on Tuesday was just the most recent in a string of attacks on institutions in Kosovo and across the region. After facing several attacks, the Kosovo government proposed creating an agency for cybersecurity.

The government approved a draught law on cybersecurity that calls for creating an agency. According to sources, the new law is intended to stop cybercrime and help the region counter the new wave of cyberattacks targeted towards The Republic of Kosovo.

“We have recently faced cyber-attacks. In this direction, through this law, a legal basis for the prevention of cybercrime will be created. Regulation of the cyber field is also related to the government’s program,” Minister of the Interior of Kosovo Xhelal Sveçla said while discussing the law, the Balkan Insight reported.

Kosovo proposes a cybersecurity agency

Recently, Kosovo experienced several cyberattacks that impacted various industries. With no central way of fighting against hackers, the Republic of Kosovo has decided to establish a legal foundation to prevent cybercrime. The State Authority for Cyber Security will be selected as part of the bill designed to improve Kosovo’s computer security.

Creating a contact point within the police that will be open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, is just one of many other steps that the cybersecurity agency projects.  On September 13, 2022, an unknown threat actor targeted Kosovo Telecom, wherein the mobile and landline internet connections were halted. Kosovo telecom server announced on Tuesday that they had survived the attacks and restored the functionality of the Internet with the help of cybersecurity specialists.

Hackers attacked Kosovo institutions

Kosovo Information Society Agency’s cybersecurity team collaborated with outside cybersecurity specialists and determined that a series of cyberattacks caused the issue with the internet service. After being controlled by the team, the cyber attack did not succeed in breaching the state’s computer network. However, the cybersecurity team stopped the attack before it could do more damage.

According to sources, the cyber attack originated from outside Kosovo, and its intended victim was an IP address that hosted several websites for institutions in Kosovo. As per Koha.net, an anonymous letter forewarned of an attack on the nation’s institutions and media on Monday night. The attack occurred due to “promoting enmity against Muslims,” according to the letter in English.