Papua New Guinea loses access to millions of dollars after ransomware hit

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – A ransomware attack has left the government of Papua New Guinea with “no access to hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid money.”

The attack on the Finance Department’s Integrated Financial Management System (IFMS) occurred last week, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the situation.

The IFMS – a consolidated financial system including all budgeting and bills – controls the government’s access to funds.

The attackers have demanded Bitcoin in ransom, according to the people who spoke to Bloomberg but requested anonymity to discuss confidential government affairs.

The island nation’s “network systems have several critical vulnerabilities,” the insiders said.

The ransomware attack and freeze on funds has come at a time when Papua New Guinea is grappling with an intense COVID-19, which has seen the overall case count shoot up to almost 29,000, including 335 deaths.