In late March, around 70 websites in Luxembourg fell victim to a major wave of cyberattacks, prompting heightened concerns about cybersecurity within the country.
The issue of cyberattacks and cybersecurity was recently raised in a parliamentary question by the Pirate Party. The Director of the Government IT Centre (CTIE) confirmed that the vast majority of websites targeted in March belonged to the state or a small number of municipalities. Notably, the parliamentary question, posed by MP Ben Polidori, preceded the most recent cyberattack, believed to originate from Russia. Regardless of this incident, cybersecurity remains a pressing concern.
One example of this is the Taurus scandal, where high-ranking German officials were eavesdropped on during a sensitive discussion by the Russian secret service. In response to this case, Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Minister for Digitalisation Stéphanie Obertin underscored the government's unwavering commitment to safeguarding the confidentiality of electronic communications and data protection.
To uphold these standards, secure solutions recommended by the CTIE are mandated for the transfer of confidential documents. Additionally, a directive prohibits public service agents from using social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, or WhatsApp for professional or non-public information.
Furthermore, a secure messaging service has been implemented for nearly a year, facilitating communication among public sector employees on work mobile phones, other professional devices, or even private phones. Specially encrypted mobile phones are also provided for government members and senior civil servants to enhance security measures.
