Computer hackers have attacked the Italian social security website, forcing it to close on Wednesday, just as people started applying for coronavirus benefits, the head of the social service said. Pasquale Tridico said that his INPS agency had received approximately 339,000 applications so far, $ 600 ($ 655), but hackers had compromised access to the site.
“Over the past few days, we’ve undergone several hacker attacks that have caused a major outage,” Tridico told state channel RAI. & # 39; They went ahead today and we had to close the website. & # 39; The government has imposed a nationwide shutdown to try to contain a coronavirus outbreak that killed nearly 12,500 people in less than six weeks.
Due to the constraints, much of Italian business has stalled, destroying many people’s livelihoods. As a first reaction to the economic crisis, self-employed workers or seasonal workers can apply for a special INPS benefit of 600 euros.
However, users who attempted to log into the INPS site earlier on Wednesday reported serious disruption. Some said other people’s personal information was displayed on their screens as they tried to complete their requests. Tridico said he had told the police about the cyber attack, which has cast doubt on the security of Italy’s digital infrastructure as it struggles with the coronavirus emergency. He did not report a data breach.
The Democratic Party (PD) ruling party said that national security services should be tasked with finding those behind the hacks. “These jackals should be stopped immediately,” said PD deputy leader Andrea Orlando. ($ 1 = 0.9153 euros)
(This story has not been edited by staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
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