• RANSOM: Unknown hackers attacked servers of Mexico’s Economy Ministry, causing the slowdown of some administrative procedures but without compromising sensitive data. The attackers demanded 4,000 bitcoins as ransom, the equivalent of USD 38 million, according to government sources.
• ASSESSMENT: “After conducting an exhaustive review, we identified that some Ministry servers were affected. The impacted services were mainly email and file servers”, the Ministry said adding that they have increased cybersecurity. Sources expect systems to be restored by Friday.
• ATTACK: Mexican government sources told Reforma newspaper that despite giving a deadline of two weeks, no ransom was yet paid. This Sunday’s cyberattack follows a previous one in November, where hackers were able to paralyze systems of Mexico’s state-owned oil company, Pemex.
• RECURRING: The Mexican Central Bank said in December that the number of cybersecurity incidents against Mexican financial institutions averaged four reports every quarter in 2019, showing that hacking attempts go beyond public institutions and extend to key private actors.
