BREAKING NEWS

Italy's foreign ministry came under cyber attack in 2016

By REUTERS

FEBRUARY 10, 2017 19:08

ROME - Italy's foreign ministry was hacked last year, a source close to the department said on Friday, confirming a report in the Guardian newspaper which also said Russia was suspected of perpetrating the attack.

Last spring, hackers got into the system at the ministry, which was then headed by now-Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, and the attacks carried on for more than four months but did not gain access to classified information, the paper said.

"The Italian government had already informed (the paper) of what it is reporting today," the source said in response to the article, noting that security had since been stepped up.

"These were not attacks on the encrypted computer system which carries the most important and sensitive information, but the email system for staff at the foreign ministry and embassies," the source said.

Gentiloni, who took over as premier in December, was not affected by the attack, the Guardian quoted a government official as saying. He avoided using email when he was serving as foreign minister, the paper said.

According to the Guardian, two people with knowledge of the attack said the Russian state was believed to have been behind it. The source close to the ministry could not confirm this.

Cyber crime has come into sharp focus since United States intelligence agencies accused Russia of interfering in last year's US election.

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