KRG Warns of Cyber Threats Using Hacked Government Emails
According to the statement released Wednesday, organized hacker groups have compromised official email accounts belonging to government entities and other trusted sources to distribute malware.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Department of Information Technology has issued a public warning about an increasing wave of cyberattacks targeting individuals and institutions throughout the Region. For example, attackers have attempted to hack people by creating fake links and pages under the name of Kurdistan24.
According to the statement released Wednesday, organized hacker groups have compromised official email accounts belonging to government entities and other trusted sources to distribute malware. These malicious emails typically feature attention-grabbing headlines, counterfeit websites mimicking reputable Kurdish media outlets, and links that appear legitimate but are intended to infect users’ devices.
“The goal is to gain your trust and trick you into clicking on harmful links,” the department warned.
The KRG urged the public to remain vigilant and take the following precautionary steps:
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links, even if the email seems to come from a known contact.
- Always verify the sender and the content before downloading files or visiting websites.
- Report any suspicious messages to relevant IT or cybersecurity teams.
- Keep all devices and antivirus software updated.
Officials emphasized that raising public awareness is a key line of defense against such cyber threats. “Please stay alert and share this message widely,” the statement concluded.
