Computers belonging to key Armenian state institutions, including the Prime Minister's Office, the Central Bank, and the electoral commission, have been targeted in cyberattacks, details of which were presented by information security expert Samvel Martirosyan.
According to findings by the Canadian research center Citizen Lab, the attacks utilized Candiru, an Israeli-origin malicious software similar to the previously known Pegasus spyware. The expert explained that infections were carried out via major advertising networks whose banners were placed on popular Armenian websites. Furthermore, these were not random actions, but precisely targeted operations.
In many of the compromised systems, advertisements were displayed with high frequency, and data collection was aimed at specific individuals and structures. The Israeli company that manufactures Candiru had previously sold it to Azerbaijan, through which state officials, journalists, and diplomats had already been targeted in the past.
According to Martirosyan, although recording such cases has become more difficult since 2024, Azerbaijan's potential intelligence interest remains high. At the same time, another parallel attack was discovered targeting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in this case, the traces point toward Kazakhstan, although experts do not rule out a Russian trace either.
Currently, experts continue to study the incidents, but there is still no clear information on the exact volume of data that was stolen.
These cyberattacks directed against state institutions once again demonstrate the urgency of ensuring digital security. These facts, uncovered by organizations and experts from various countries, indicate that modern technologies are often used not only for commercial purposes, but also for large-scale intelligence operations.
It is noteworthy that the spread of malicious software often passes through ordinary digital platforms using the mechanisms of advertising networks, which increases the scope of vulnerability. In the near future, the consistent improvement of defensive mechanisms will become crucial for institutions.
