Lithuania launches investigation into EPEKIS system cyberattack

Lithuanian authorities have launched a pre-trial investigation following a cyberattack on the EPEKIS system, an archival database managed by the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications. The system, which has been inactive since 2018, contains data regarding foreigners who have applied for Lithuanian citizenship.

While attackers successfully accessed the system and created data sets, officials stated that unauthorized downloading of data has not yet been confirmed. The breach was detected and further malicious actions were prevented by existing security measures. The incident has been reported to the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, the State Data Protection Inspectorate, and the National Cyber Security Centre.

Interior Minister Martynas Katelynas noted that the incident highlights areas where Lithuania must strengthen its cybersecurity. He also mentioned that artificial intelligence may have been utilized in the attack.