Recent incident reports detail a cryptocurrency platform attack attributed to North Korea resulting in an estimated 6.3 billion dollar haul, alongside a ransomware extortion case involving a pharmaceutical logistics firm that paid in bitcoin to block customer data leaks.
Businesses under hostage situation
A typical example is a pharmaceutical logistics company whose data was encrypted by malware. The loss of access jeopardized the supply of essential medicines to hospitals, drugstores and pharmacies. Despite instructions from the authorities that victims should not succumb to blackmail, the company’s management eventually paid a ransom in Bitcoin to prevent the publication of sensitive personal data of its customers on the Dark Web.
According to the Director of the National Cybersecurity Authority, Michalis Bletsas, the standard rule is not to pay ransoms, clarifying that the Greek government has never paid and will not pay. However, in practice many businesses succumb, hoping that the perpetrators will keep their promises.
Personal data under the hammer and government goals
Stolen data for sale, such as platform accounts, IDs and passports, is constantly being found on the Dark Web. Attacks are not always financially motivated, as government websites are often the focus. For example, in September 2022, the website of the Ministry of Education of North Macedonia was compromised. According to the hacker who claimed responsibility, finding the vulnerability and altering the page took just minutes, while he maintained access to the files for weeks.
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Globally, a massive cyberattack on cryptocurrency exchange Binance has been attributed to North Korea, with the estimated loot reaching $6,3 billion. Cybersecurity expert Vangelis Stykas, who managed to penetrate the systems of North Korean hackers, points out that the country's nuclear program is largely financed by such illegal actions, behind which is a well-organized army with hundreds of thousands of victims worldwide.
The level of security in Greece
Regarding the country's defense, Michalis Bletsas admitted that the Greek public sector is not at a satisfactory level. As he explained, investment in cybersecurity is often neglected by political leadership because it does not offer immediate visibility and the inauguration of other projects, specifically noting that in this area "in the worst case, we are holding a funeral."
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