Saudis counter cyber attacks against state agencies

The Saudi interior ministry announced on Tuesday that it has intercepted a wave of cyberattacks against several government agencies and other vital sectors in the kingdom. The attacks, said a ministry statement on Twitter, originated overseas.

“The attackers managed to exploit existing loopholes through e-mail servers,” the ministry explained. “The relevant authorities are taking the required preventive measures.”

According to the ministry, the first attack took place over a year ago; the latest was last week.

As many as 39 per cent of the attacks targeted government agencies followed by the media sector with 23 per cent and telecommunications on 15 per cent. This was followed by the information technology sector with 15 per cent of the attacks; electricity and water had 8 per cent.