Cyberattacks Disrupt Airport Control Systems in Cyprus, Leading to Long Queues and Delays
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The police control systems at Cyprus’ airports and other key checkpoints have been fully restored following a series of six cyberattacks over the weekend, police spokesman Christos Andreou confirmed on Monday.
Speaking to state broadcaster CyBC, Andreou said the situation has stabilized and that necessary upgrades to the systems are being implemented to bolster cybersecurity in light of the recent incidents.
On Sunday, control systems at both Larnaca and Paphos airports, as well as other entry and exit points across the Republic, were upgraded to address the heightened cyber threats. Although the systems remained operational during the upgrade process, an attempted cyberattack on Hermes, the operator of Cyprus’ airports, resulted in significant delays. The attack, which took place on Friday, led to lengthy queues at Larnaca airport as processing times slowed considerably.
Passenger frustration grew as the backlog intensified at Larnaca due to the increased traffic. Paphos airport, which saw lower passenger numbers at the time, experienced fewer disruptions.
Andreou emphasized that the upgrades were a direct response to the specific threats received, but warned that additional upgrades could be necessary depending on future attacks and the methods employed by hackers.
Cyprus has faced a spate of cyberattacks in recent days, affecting both government services and private companies. Among the key targets was the government’s main website, which was briefly taken offline on Sunday, according to Deputy Minister of Research Nicodemos Damianou. He assured the public that authorities were able to respond effectively, restoring the site quickly.
Other entities hit by the attacks included the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), Bank of Cyprus, telecommunications company Cyta, oil company EKO, and Hermes Airports.
Cybersecurity expert Eleftherios Antoniades, speaking to CyBC, suggested that the cyberattacks were likely aimed at testing Cyprus’ defenses rather than conducting a targeted operation. He described the attacks as a “show of force” and warned that cybersecurity levels across companies and government institutions in Cyprus remain dangerously low.
“Some companies may not even realize they’ve been attacked due to inadequate cybersecurity measures,” Antoniades said, adding that the timing of future attacks is unpredictable.
Dinos Pastos, an internet security specialist, echoed these concerns, describing the disruption caused by hackers as a demonstration of capability. He warned that more organized and coordinated attacks could follow if cybersecurity is not reinforced.
Following the wave of attacks, communications commissioner George Michaelides issued a warning on Saturday that further cyber threats may be imminent.
As the country continues to recover from the weekend’s incidents, authorities are prioritizing efforts to enhance cybersecurity and safeguard critical infrastructure from potential future attacks.
