Fact Check: Albania has faced cyberattacks since 2008, experts reveal.

Fact Check: "Albania has faced cyberattacks since 2008, experts reveal."

What We Know

Albania has indeed been a target of cyberattacks for several years. Notably, a report from Politico states that Albania has been under cyberattack since 2008, with ongoing incidents that have included data breaches and physical theft of information. The country's cybersecurity landscape has evolved in response to these threats, as highlighted in a study on the evolution of cybersecurity strategies in Albania.

In recent years, the Albanian government has publicly attributed significant cyberattacks to Iranian state-sponsored actors, particularly after a major incident in July 2022 that led to a severance of diplomatic ties between Albania and Iran. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) noted that these attacks were likely retaliatory measures against Albania for hosting Iranian dissidents.

Analysis

The claim that Albania has faced cyberattacks since 2008 is supported by multiple sources, including AP News, which details a recent cyberattack on Albania's Institute of Statistics attributed to Iranian hackers. This aligns with the broader context of Albania's cybersecurity challenges, as discussed in the Foreign Policy article, which outlines the geopolitical factors contributing to these cyber threats.

However, while the assertion is broadly accurate, it lacks specificity regarding the nature and frequency of the attacks prior to 2022. The ResearchGate study indicates that Albania's vulnerability has increased with the expansion of its digital landscape, suggesting that while attacks may have occurred since 2008, their scale and impact have varied significantly over time.

The reliability of the sources is generally high, with reputable news agencies and cybersecurity authorities providing the information. However, the potential for bias exists, particularly in politically charged contexts such as cyberattacks attributed to state actors. The CISA and AP News are credible sources, but the framing of the narrative around Iranian involvement may reflect geopolitical tensions.

Conclusion

The claim that "Albania has faced cyberattacks since 2008" is Partially True. While there is evidence to support that Albania has been targeted by cyberattacks for many years, the details surrounding the nature, frequency, and specific incidents prior to recent years are less clear. The significant increase in attention to these attacks, particularly from state-sponsored actors, has become more pronounced in the last few years, especially following major incidents in 2022.

Fact Check: Albania has faced cyberattacks since 2008, experts reveal.