VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s public sector employees were targeted in several cyberattacks during the country’s high-profile tenure on the UN Security Council and its 2024 chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), according to the Malta Security Service (MSS).
The MSS’s 2023 and 2024 annual reports, tabled in Parliament by Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri, revealed that Malta experienced “a number of cyber incidents” over this period. These included phishing attempts aimed at government staff, ransomware attacks on small and medium businesses, and denial of service (DDoS) attacks intended to disrupt online services.
While no direct link was found between Malta’s diplomatic engagements and the cyber incidents, the MSS noted that the country’s increased international visibility likely raised its cyber-risk profile.
The secret service said most attacks were financially motivated or aimed at service disruption, rather than sophisticated espionage attempts. However, the MSS warned that Malta’s role in sensitive global discussions, including digital regulation and AI governance, demands stronger cybersecurity measures. “Maintaining secure communication channels is essential to protect Malta’s credibility in international forums,” the report stressed.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS)
