Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has initiated an unscheduled inspection following the information leak about cyber espionage, according to the Ministry of Digital Development. Previously, it was reported that Kazakhstan’s diplomatic organizations had come under cyberattack, allegedly linked to Russia-based hackers.
Cyberattacks on the MFA systems have been continuously recorded for over a year. Although the Ministry of Digital Development has been aware of them, the agency decided to perform an inspection after Sekoia.io, a cybersecurity software company headquartered in France, posted its report on the issue on Jan. 13.
Baliya Kenzhebulatova, a representative of the Ministry of Digital Development, has confirmed this information to Kursiv.media. However, the agency refused to comment on the alleged connection between the cyber campaign and Russia until the investigation is over.
«Every workstation is equipped with an information protection system. Its protection level is continuously monitored, software is regularly updated and cyber immunity is constantly enhanced,» the Ministry of Digital Development stated regarding the MFA’s cyber protection.
Kursiv.media has also reached out to the MFA for comment, but the agency’s press service refused to comment and suggested contacting the authorized bodies responsible for cyber security.
According to Sekoia.io, the goal of the cyber campaign was reportedly to gather intelligence on Kazakhstan’s relationships with Western and Central Asian nations while working to maintain Russia’s influence in the region.
