LALIGABA website hit by cyberattack; no personal data compromised
The website of the Latvian Literature Annual Award (laligaba.lv) was hacked, but CERT.lv says no data was breached and the attack was not targeted.
The official website of the Latvian Literature Annual Award (LALIGABA) – laligaba.lv – has suffered a cyberattack in which attackers posted their own content, declaring responsibility. CERT.lv, the national cybersecurity incident response institution, told Delfi that the attack resembles vandalism, akin to leaving a “I was here” graffiti on a wall.
Current information indicates that no data was affected, and there is no threat to visitors who accessed the site. CERT.lv emphasizes that the attack was not specifically targeted at LALIGABA; the attackers used automated tools to scan the internet for vulnerable websites. Once found, those sites are exploited to insert content. The same group has allegedly compromised websites in other countries using this method.
Unauthorized access typically results from outdated software, content management systems, or plugins. To prevent such intrusions, CERT.lv advises keeping all website technologies updated, as updates contain security patches. If a compromised site is spotted, it can be reported to cert@cert.lv. For protection against hacked sites that distribute malware, a free DNS firewall service is available from CERT.lv and NIC.lv.
Earlier reports confirmed the hack when Eva Eglāja-Kristsone, director of the University of Latvia’s Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art, noted that the breach was discovered on the evening of Friday, July 3. Upon opening, the site displayed the message “Hacked by trenggalek6etar”. LALIGABA is the most significant literary event in Latvia, organized by several institutions.
