Mexico confirms hack of navy information, president’s well being info

Mexico stated Friday that it had suffered a significant hack of information held by the armed forces, together with particulars concerning the president’s coronary heart situation.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed the theft, which was first revealed by native media in a single day.

“It’s true, there was a cyber hack,” he stated, noting that hackers had exploited a change within the navy’s IT techniques.

However, he stated that no delicate info had been stolen.

What do we all know concerning the knowledge theft?

The six terabytes of information stolen included, amongst different issues, Lopez Obrador’s state of well being and various safety points, the information portal Latinus reported.

According to Latinus’ evaluation, tens of hundreds of emails and paperwork have been hacked, courting from 2016 to September this 12 months.

The knowledge additionally reportedly included particulars of prison figures, transcripts of communications, and the monitoring of the US ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar.

Other paperwork referred to particulars of a failed navy operation to arrest a son of drug baron Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman in 2019.

Why the fuss concerning the president’s well being?

The hack revealed private particulars concerning the 68-year-old president’s angina, which he was handled 10 occasions for within the first half of January.

Lopez Obrador had a coronary heart assault in 2013 and was admitted to hospital originally of the 12 months due to the danger he might endure one other.

The authorities had beforehand stated the president underwent a cardiac catheterization that month.

Who was behind the hacking?

The hack was reportedly carried out by a gaggle recognized in native media as “Guacamaya” or macaw — a hen species native to Central and South America.

The hacking group has carried out related assaults in different Latin American international locations.

Among the group’s earlier victims have been the militaries of Chile, Peru, Colombia and El Salvador.

They’ve additionally focused regional mining and oil corporations.

The hacktivists have printed a manifesto in Spanish accusing the United States and Western companies of overexploiting the area’s pure sources.

Critic blasts navy’s rising affect

A journalist and critic of the federal government, Carlos Loret stated the leak confirmed how a lot affect the navy had acquired beneath Lopez Obrador’s administration.

The president has tasked the armed forces with all the pieces from constructing infrastructure to overseeing customs.

“This is also a ministry that lapsed in its cyber security and was left exposed, even as the country debates the role of the armed forces in the country,” Loret stated in an internet video.

Legislation that enables the armed forces to combat crime was prolonged by lawmakers earlier is month, regardless of criticism of alleged abuses and issues the federal government is militarizing inside safety.