The information system of the Office of Geodesy, Cartography, and Cadastre (ÚGKK) of the Slovak Republic, which is used by the cadastral departments of district offices, has been hit by a large-scale cyber-attack originating from abroad. As a precautionary measure, the cadastral departments’ workplaces will be temporarily closed until the consequences of the attack are resolved.
The ÚGKK confirmed that its systems were the target of a cyber-attack. “All systems are currently shut down. We are working intensively with the support of cybersecurity experts to restore functionality,” the office stated.
The attackers are reportedly demanding a seven-figure dollar ransom to unlock access to the cadastral data. The website indicates that a ransomware attack, in which data is encrypted by attackers, is responsible for the malfunction.
The land registry’s electronic services have been unavailable since at least Monday, January 6, a public holiday in Slovakia. Employees have reportedly been instructed not to switch on their computers.
The cadastral department staff typically handle tasks such as registering changes in property ownership based on submitted purchase agreements or other contracts.
“There is an expectation that, as of January 9, 2025, the cadastral departments of district offices will operate in a limited capacity,” the ÚGKK announced.
Members of the parliamentary committee to review the activities of the National Security Office will deal with the situation at the land registry at an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday (14 January). The date was published on the website of the National Council of the Slovak Republic. The director of the National Security Office, Roman Konečný, as well as the director of the Office of Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre of the Slovak Republic, Juraj Celler, are to be invited to the committee.
Source: TASR, pravda.sk
