Major Cyberattack Halts Operations at INIA: Over 600 Workers Affected
The National Institute of Agricultural and Food Technology Research (INIA), the largest center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), has been brought to a standstill for the past two weeks due to a cyberattack of unknown origin. As reported by El País, the attack, which occurred on November 12, has left over 600 employees unable to access their computers, browse the internet, or consult vital scientific data stored on the internal network.
In a bid to mitigate further risks, INIA management has forbidden employees from connecting external devices to their workstations. Instead, workers have been advised to use personal devices or home internet connections to maintain productivity. Researchers at INIA engage in critical studies involving various animals, including sheep, mice, and chickens, as well as Spain's exclusive native livestock breeds, making this disruption particularly concerning regarding urgent needs such as ordering animal feed or laboratory supplies.
An employee based in INIA's central office in Madrid spoke anonymously to El País, revealing that staff have received little information beyond confirmation of the cyberattack. "We have only been informed that there has been a cyberattack, but we have not been given more information. We’ve been warned that the computers are very outdated and have many security gaps, with most of them unable to support the Windows 11 operating system," the employee stated.
The implications of this cyberattack extend beyond immediate operational disruptions; it raises concerns about the security infrastructure at crucial research institutions in Spain. With the absence of staff due to the incident, there have reportedly been fewer than 50 individuals present at the center recently. The full impact of the attack on ongoing research projects and the institution's future capabilities remains to be assessed, especially as cyber threats continue to proliferate worldwide.
Related Sources: