Cyberattacks in Europe seek to generate instability, says Italy

A italian Government Security Commission today concluded that recent cyber attacks in several European countries aimed to “create destabilization elements” and spread false alarms to undermine the reputation of the institutions.

The authorities presented this conclusion at a meeting held at the Ministry of the Interior in Rome under the chairmanship of the portfolio holder, Matteo Piantedosi, to examine the incidents recorded in recent weeks.

Among the episodes investigated are cyber attacks that have affected, albeit very limitedly, the refrigeration systems of some supermarkets, as well as incidents related to the construction of the strategic Brenner tunnel and false bomb threats on commercial flights.

While awaiting the results of ongoing judicial investigations, the Italian Government’s Security Committee identified as the common denominator of these attacks “the intention of hackers to create elements of destabilisation and spreading alarms, which subsequently proved unfounded, affecting the reputation of institutions taken as targets”.

To these incidents is added the complaint made last Saturday by Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, who stated that his personal data and those of his family had been disclosed in the so-called ‘dark web’.

Tajani himself warned today, from Paris, that these actions are part of a hybrid war strategy that may have among its objectives “condition vote in Europe”.

To address such threats, the Security Committee has decided to strengthen coordination and information sharing between police forces, secret services and cybersecurity specialised bodies.

Cooperation between public and private operators will also be strengthened and new investments will be planned to detect and respond more quickly to possible attacks.

The objective is to improve the security of state computer systems, protect essential infrastructure and ensure that public services continue to operate in the face of possible cyber attacks.

In addition to the senior officers of the Italian police and secret services, the head of the Defence Staff, the national anti-mafia and anti-terrorism prosecutor and representatives of the National Cyber Security Agency (CNA) of Italy participated in the meeting.