– For over a month we have been observing a drastic increase in cyberattacks on Poland. They take place in different categories and different spaces. First of all, they are aimed at causing electoral destabilization – said Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski during a press conference on Monday.
Ministry of Digitization: We are raising the electoral procedure to an even higher level
– Russia has one specific goal in Europe before June 9 – to destabilize the situation and ensure that the forces that support the breakup of the European Union can profit from it – he added. Gawkowski also confirmed the cyberattack on the Polish Press Agency that occurred last week.
– We needed a few minutes to refute this disinformation and show that the Polish cyber defense and support system is well managed. We succeeded, said the Deputy Prime Minister. He explained that cybercriminals used malware to break security. – This infiltration was intentional and was intended to cause panic and emotions. The system defended itself – emphasized Krzysztof Gawkowski.
We are raising the electoral process regarding cyberspace protection to an even higher level. We appeal to everyone – the Polish state guarantees digital responsibility on the eve of the elections
– said the deputy prime minister.
One of the journalists asked Gawkowski whether the government expects massive cyberattacks before the European Parliament elections, which will take place in Poland on Sunday, June 9. – We are dealing with massive attacks. Several attacks on critical infrastructure were stopped in Poland tonight and on Sunday. They take place every day, Gawkowski emphasized. – Poland is in a “warm” cyber war with Russia. This can be seen in the way ABW and NASK work – he added.
During the press conference, the Minister of Digital Affairs also announced the creation of a “cyber shield”. – We want to allocate over PLN 3 billion for the “cyber shield”, which will guarantee the safety of Polish women and men. It is to be a “cyber shield” that will carry out regular security reviews and build resilience at the level of critical infrastructure, he said.
Cyber attack on PAP. “We are working to further strengthen security”
On Friday, the Polish Press Agency announced that it had suffered a cyber attack. PAP management issued a statement on this matter. “All technical information necessary to clarify the nature of this dangerous incident is provided to the relevant services. We are working on further strengthening the security measures protecting our systems and websites. We declare close cooperation with the authorities investigating the course of the event,” wrote PAP liquidator Marek Błoński and editor-in-chief Wojciech Tumidalski . They added that the path used to enter the false message to the PAP website was identified and blocked.
On the PAP website on Friday at At 2:00 p.m. a false message appeared with the title: “Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Donald Tusk: partial mobilization will begin in Poland on July 1, 2024.” The telegram showed that 200,000 Polish citizens are soon to be drafted into compulsory military service and serve in Ukraine. The message was quickly withdrawn and replaced by the following message: “Attention, editors! We are withdrawing the message with the above title from the website. It is not true. We are sorry.”
Source: Gazeta
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