Police investigate cyber attack on state forest systems and uncover unauthorised mediation
State Police continue investigating a case that began in June concerning a cyber attack on the data infrastructure of the state enterprise "Latvian State Forests". Investigators have determined that an unauthorised individual attempted to negotiate with hackers regarding a ransom.
Police investigate cyber attack on state forest systems and uncover unauthorised mediation
On the previous day, State Police conducted investigative actions in the criminal case that was opened on 26 June this year concerning a digital attack on the information systems of the state enterprise "Latvian State Forests". This was reported by LVportals.lv (https://lvportals.lv/dienaskartiba/391616).
During the investigation of the case, law enforcement officers discovered that a certain individual, who had no connection to the cyber attack itself, nevertheless acted without authority in the interests of the state capital company. This individual, despite having no official mandate or approval, contacted the criminals who carried out the attack and discussed with them the possibility of paying a ransom to recover the encrypted data.
Police clarified that a separate criminal case was not initiated against this person. Instead, investigators assigned him a status within the existing process — a person against whom criminal proceedings have been initiated. The suspect has not been detained; he voluntarily came to State Police to provide an explanation and has cooperated with investigators. A search was also conducted, resulting in the seizure of one technical device. Police note that such actions are standard practice in the course of criminal proceedings.
Investigators emphasise that the views this person has previously expressed publicly regarding the cyber attack are not being evaluated. Instead, attention is focused on his arbitrary conduct when, without legal basis, he took actions on behalf of the state enterprise.
The case is currently qualified under Article 243, paragraph five of the Criminal Law — for intentional disruption of a data processing system containing information related to state security. An additional qualification has been applied under Article 279, paragraph one of the Criminal Law — for arbitrary conduct when a person, circumventing the procedure established by law, takes actions whose legality is disputed by a state institution, and such conduct results in considerable damage.
Source: Google News LV — Crime (lv)