Cyberattacks on the Rise in Kosovo

The cases of cyber attacks have marked growth in Kosovo. In the last three years alone, 116 such cases have been reported. The cases have to do with access to computer systems, misuse of bank and credit cards, and child pornography via the Internet.

For all these works, police have put 41 people in handcuffs, while criminal rowing has been filed against 74 others.

They had stolen and distributed stolen identities and debit cards for years. But the short month turned out to be unfortunate for two Kosovo hackers, who were also wanted by the United States.

Liridon Musliu and Besart Hoxha are among the 36 people against whom the US Justice Department has pressed charges of involvement in cyber fraud schemes and identity theft.

They were cuffed on the seventh day of February of this year by Kosovo Police.

The same were confiscated, two cars, laptop computers, computer lodges, cell phones, USB, camera photo and various documents.

The two perpetrators are part of an organisation that deals with illegal activities for stealing and distributing stolen identities, debit cartels, and other Internet smuggling.

While, from this cybercrime, damage has been estimated to exceed the value of US $530 million in losses to consumers, businesses, and financial institutions.

But these are not the only cyberattacks that have been carried out this year.

In fact, over the years, they seem to be growing up.

In the last three years alone, 116 cybercrime cases have been reported until 469 assimilations have been reported.

For the same period of cyberattacks, 41 persons have been arrested, while criminal charges have been filed against 74 others.

Kosovo Police have told Gazeta Express that the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kosovo and the Law for Prevention and Combating Cyber Crimes do not recognise it, cybercrime as a single criminal offence, but there are several acts that enter cyber crimes.

According to police, cyberattack cases involve cybersystem access, misuse of folders and pornography via the Internet.

“Rasts have to do with cybersystem access (attacks on various websites), misuse of bank and credit folders (coming bank data from bank customers through the introduction of modified equipment, as well as cloning and using bank or credit cards) and child pornography via internet”, police responses are said.

Otherwise, days ago the Kosovo Banks Association under the world's cyber security month has provided some recommendations for businesses and citizens about cyber security.

Through a communiqué to the media, they have clarified that cyber attacks are global phenomena that neither save Kosovo nor particularly violate different businesses and institutions.

According to the association, fraud through computer systems can cause considerable damage, so the Kosovo Banks Association presents several recommendations for businesses in order to better protect against cyberattacks.

“to ensure antivirus computer systems are recommended that you keep the operating system regularly updated with recent updates, as well as to have antiVirus installed and keep it regularly updated. Also, other applications such as the browser (Explor, Firefox, Chrome) tHrome keep you updated”, says the report.

On the other hand, from this association suggest that you do not send your personal information, in particular the name of the user, the password and credit information of the folder through email, social media messages (ė Facebook) and so forth.

Legal business, especially banks, will not ask users to send their personal sensitive information through these tools. Do not perform banking transactions on computers you do not trust. Don't use the Wi-Fi when you're running any financial issues. Use secure Wi-Fi or 3G nets for any safe transaction such as e-banking and credit transactions; do not download apps from any media except the apps market that your mobile phone device offers; nowadays, it is very important that benefits Bank details be accepted in the surest way to execute payments with the aim of avoiding counterfeit payment risk”, it is further stated in their recommendation. /Gazza Express