The Swedish government's system could possibly take weeks before it returns to fully operational following a ransomware attack on its computer service provider.

According to Sweden's civil defense minister, at least 178 reports of potential data breaches were made after the cybercriminal group Akira hacked into Tietoevry Oyj's data centers in the country.

Tietoevry is the one digital service provider on Sweden's government systems.

The tech firm promised to make "every effort" to bring back its technical services as soon as possible. Tietoevry is now working with authorities on the investigation.

The cyberattack occurred on the night of Jan. 19 on its data center in Sweden. Tietoevry

Other than the Swedish government systems, several cinemas and retailers have also been reportedly affected by the cyberattacks.

Also Read: What to Know About Ransomware Threats in 2024

Tietoevry Cyberattack Blamed on Russian Government

Coincidentally, the cyberattack on the Swedish government occurred as the country was about to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Finland, who also joined NATO last year, blamed Russian operatives for the recent attack on the neighboring country, claiming that a similar string of cyberattacks occurred.

One of the data breaches even occurred when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was speaking to Finland's parliament.

Sweden has already been notified earlier to expect hybrid attacks, including ransomware, following its decision to enter NATO.

It can be remembered that NATO is one of the first international organizations that sent troops in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The alliance even pledged €500 million to support Ukrainian soldiers' critical needs against Russian troops.

EU Cyberattacks on the Rise

However, it is not only those parts of NATO that have been experiencing an increase in cyberattacks in the past year.

Cyber experts have noted how attacks become more sophisticated and advanced as countries ramp up security measures against them.

According to EU's IT Governance, more than 109 million records were breached in November 2023 from the 47 publicly disclosed security incidents.

Cybersecurity experts have since warned that the attacks could increase with more criminal groups integrating powerful AI tools into their operations.

Related Article: UK Cybersecurity Agency Says Scams Will Be Harder to Detect Due to AI