Albania Condemns Iran for July Cyberattack

The investigation into the cyberattack against Albania's Government of the Republic of Albania website on July 15th, 2022, has identified Iran as the perpetrator for the attack. The identification aligns with reports from the United States government and cybersecurity firm Mandiant, stating the state-sponsored attack was linked "without a shadow of doubt." As a consequence of the attack Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama, declared on Wednesday, September 7th, 2022, the staff of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to vacate the Republic of Albania within 24 hours. Albeit a strong decision, damages from the attack warranted such a response given weeks of recovery efforts and the intent of the attack. As stated by Rama "This extreme response, one that is unwanted but totally forced on us, is fully proportionate to the gravity and risk of the cyberattack that threatened to  paralyze public services, erase digital systems and hack into State records, steal Government intranet electronic communication and stir chaos and insecurity in the country." Albania has coordinated its investigation with NATO members and with input from the Council of Ministers to arrive at their decision to exile Iran.

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