Poland’s Cybersecurity Experts Counter Russian and Belarusian Threats

• Cybersecurity officials in Poland announced that they had successfully stopped hackers’ attacks.
• Several cyberattacks and online blackmail attempts by an unnamed threat actor were prevented in the country.
• The country plans to implement new legislation to safeguard Poland's digital infrastructure.

Poland's cybersecurity officials have successfully thwarted a series of sophisticated cyberattacks and online blackmail attempts orchestrated by groups linked to Russian and Belarusian intelligence services, as per recent reports.

Poland, a staunch ally of Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, has become a frequent target of cyber aggression, and the nation's cyber threat landscape is escalating.

According to government officials, up to 1,000 online attacks are registered daily against government institutions and agencies. The surge in cyber incidents is attributed to Poland's unwavering support for Ukraine.

Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski revealed that the disrupted cybercriminal group aimed to infiltrate state and private company systems to extract sensitive information for extortion purposes. 

Alarmingly, the first half of 2024 alone saw over 400,000 attempted or successful cyberattacks, a significant increase from the 370,000 recorded throughout the prior year.

In response to the persistent threat, the Polish government is advancing new legislation to bolster the country's cybersecurity framework. One key proposal involves mandating internet operators to store data on domestic servers, thereby enhancing internal protection and enabling more rigorous oversight by national authorities.

Minister Gawkowski emphasized the necessity of these measures, highlighting the importance of safeguarding Poland's digital infrastructure in an era of heightened cyber warfare. "Our commitment to protecting national security and privacy is resolute. We must adapt and strengthen our defenses in light of emerging threats," he stated.

Meanwhile, 100 government computers were infected with malware by hackers posing as Ukraine's security service, the “Security Service of Ukraine” (SSU).