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Albanian gov’t signs deal with U.S. company to strengthen digital security
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- Deal comes at the heels of several breaches into government servers, leading to the leaks of sensitive personal data for almost all working adults.
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TIRANA, Jan. 11 – Albania’s government has signed a deal with U.S.-based Jones Group International (JGI) to strengthen the country’s digital security.
The deal is a first step in the goal of establishing the National Center for Cyber Defense, Prime Minister Edi Rama said at the signing ceremony, adding that the center would be an added value to both Albania and NATO, with services offered going beyond Albania’s borders.
JGI is headed by James Logan Jones Jr., a retired U.S. four-star general, who served as head of the U.S. Marine Corps, the head of the U.S. military in Europe and as a former National Security Advisor to President Barack Obama.
“We very much appreciate the opportunity to work with you to address the great challenge of setting up a large cyber defense center, to be in the service of our military, but also all aspects related to the civilian part of society,” Rama said at the ceremony, according to a video released by his office.
Also present at the ceremony, Ret. Gen. Jones said he and his company would work with Albania to increase its cyber security to “liberate Albania from the worry of cyberattacks.”
He added: “I also think it is an expression of the bilateral relations between the United States and Albania that have always been strong.”
According to its website, JGI focuses on foreign policy, national security and U.S. global competitiveness.
The deal comes after Albania suffered several breaches into its digital systems with the leak of databases that saw personal information becoming public — including name, employer, ID card, voting preference, salary, mobile number and car registration.
The leaked files circulated widely online, mostly through the WhatsApp instant messenger. Several Albanian media outlets published extracts of information involving public figures.
The prime minister publicly apologized for the state’s failure in safeguarding the information, while the opposition has called for his resignation over the affair.
While salary information is one aspect most are focusing on, security experts warn that the database contains other information that can be a treasure trove for criminal groups and other malign actors, and that severe outcomes are possible.
Four people have been arrested, including two state employees, while the investigation continues. Prosecutors suspect the state employees sold the information to two companies for money, and at least one of the companies that purchased the information has been tied by local media to Russia.
