Spanish research center targeted by ransomware gang linked to Russia

Spain’s leading scientific research body became a target of a hacker attack that national authorities suspect had its origin in Russia, the country’s science ministry said on Aug 2.

Spain’s science ministry said the Spanish National Research Council was targeted by the major ransomware attack on July 16-17.

The Spanish National Research Council is the largest public institution dedicated to research in Spain and the third largest in Europe.

A preliminary analysis by Spain’s cybersecurity authorities said that it appears that no sensitive or confidential information was extracted.

In a official statement, the ministry said that the ransomware attack was similar to others carried out against NASA in the United States and the Max Planck Institute in Germany.

Even though it appears the attack failed, the security protocols activated to ensure that it was unsuccessful have left several of the council’s research centers off-line.

The other day, Italy’s tax agency was hit by LockBit ransomware gang - the notorious group of pro-Russia hackers.