Italy Coronavirus: Hacking attack on the website of the emergency benefits service - The website of the Italian social welfare service was subjected to a hacking attack, at a time when thousands of citizens were filling out their applications for emergency support benefits due to the coronavirus.
According to the head of the agency, Pasquale Trindico, INPS (social welfare agency) had received 339,000 requests for the 600 euro benefits by that time, but hackers made the website inaccessible
"In recent days we have suffered many cyberattacks that caused a major system outage. They continued today and we were forced to close the website," Tridico told state broadcaster RAI.
In order to address the mounting economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the government has introduced a 600 euro allowance for which all self-employed and seasonal workers can apply.
Italy Coronavirus – Hacking attack: The difficulties of connecting
However, users who tried to log in to its website today experienced difficulties. Some reported that personal data appeared on the screen when they tried to fill in the required fields.
Tridico said he had informed police about the cyberattack, which raised doubts about the effectiveness of the security of digital infrastructure as the country battles the coronavirus. He did not say whether there had been a data breach.
The ruling Democratic Party (PD) said the secret services should investigate who was behind the cyberattacks. "These jackals must stop immediately," the party's parliamentary group leader Andrea Orlando said emphatically.
Source: documentonews.gr
