TIRANA, Sept. 23, 2022 – Canada’s government has joined the chorus of international condemnation following the cyber attacks against Albania by Iranian-linked hackers.
“Canada strongly condemns the malicious cyber activity that targeted Albania,” said a joint statement by Canada’s ministers of foreing offers, defense and public safety. “Canada joins its allies Albania, the United Kingdom and the United States in attributing this activity to Iran.”
Albania has been under a series of sophisticated cyber attacks that have affected key government infrastructure and public services.
“Canada’s analysis is consistent with its allies’ in finding that Iranian state actors were behind this incident, which disrupted certain government services to Albanians,” the Canadian government statement says.
It adds that the incident demonstrates Iran’s “complete disregard” for the rules-based international system and for responsible state behavior and demonstrates Iran’s willingness to use its cyber capabilities to undermine government institutions and societies.
“Canada, in conjunction with our partners and allies, including the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States, will continue to advance a stable cyberspace built on the applicability of and respect for international law and the norms of responsible state behavior in cyberspace.
Albania’s government cut off diplomatic ties with Iran over the attack, a measure in proportion to the seriousness of the mid-July Iranian state-sponsored cyber attack that crippled Albanian government systems, Prime Minister Rama said at the time.
Support for Albania’s decision has poured in from allies, including the United States and United Kingdom, NATO, as well as Saudi Arabia, all of which condemned the Iranian state for the cyber attack against Albania’s government that destroyed data and disrupted essential government services, including paying utilities, booking medical appointments and enrolling schoolchildren.
