US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Saturday that he was concerned about "malicious" cyberattacks that targeted Czech hospitals fighting the new coronavirus. "As the world fights against the covid-19 pandemic, malicious cyber attacks that hinder the ability of hospitals and health systems to provide essential services are likely to be life-threatening," said Pompeo.
"Anyone who engages in such an activity must expect consequences," he said. Several Czech hospitals have recently reported successful attempts to resist cyber attacks. "The situation is now calm, we have recorded one-off incidents that have been foiled," Czech Health Minister Adam Vojtech said on Friday. The Czech National Agency for Cyber and Cyber Security Nukib warned Thursday of possible attacks "in the coming days".
6,500 cases in the country
Hospitals in the eastern cities of Olomouc and Ostrava, as well as other establishments, later reported that they had suffered unsuccessful attacks on their computer systems. Nukib did not say where these attacks may have come from. In a report released last year, the Agency identified Russia and China as two countries posing the greatest threat to Czech cybersecurity.
"We call on the actor concerned to refrain from carrying out malicious cyber activities which disrupt the health care system of the Czech Republic or are directed against similar infrastructures elsewhere" in the world, said Mike Pompeo. "We also call on all states not to turn a blind eye to criminal or other organizations that carry out such activities on their territory," he added, promising "zero tolerance" in the face of such attacks.
The Czech Republic, a member of the EU and NATO, with a population of 10.7 million, reported 6,553 confirmed cases of covid-19, including 176 deaths, on Saturday morning. The United States has recorded more than 700,000 cases and 36,773 deaths.
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- Cybercriminality
- World
- Cybersecurity
- Covid 19
- Coronavirus
- United States
- Czech republic