Lithuania fears Russian spy operation after 600,000 state records stolen
Lithuania’s Prosecutor General’s Office reports that unknown individuals copied 600,000 records from the Register Centre’s database. On Friday evening, prosecutors announced the launch of an investigation into unauthorized third-party access to state data registries.
The investigation is being led by the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau in cooperation with the Ministries of the Interior, Justice, Economy and Innovation, as well as other institutions and the State Security Department.
The Lithuanian Prosecutor General’s Office reports that unknown individuals copied 600,000 records from the Register Centre’s database. On Friday evening, the prosecution announced that an investigation had been launched into unauthorized third-party access to state data registers. The investigation is being conducted by the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau. Authorities are cooperating with the Ministries of the Interior, Justice, Economy and Innovation, other institutions, and the State Security Department.
“According to the investigation, these connections originated not only from abroad but were also made through the systems of other Lithuanian institutions. The media are already reporting that access was gained through the Migration Department under the Ministry of the Interior, with requests then sent to the Register Centre. This is a double blow,” Kašč iūnas wrote. “The situation is in fact serious — it poses a threat to Lithuania’s national security, and there are suspicions that this was a Russian intelligence operation,” he added.
After news broke of the data theft from the Register Centre, Conservative leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas on Sunday evening disclosed further details about the stolen information.
According to the politician, the operation may have compromised data on Lithuanian intelligence officers, military personnel, certain politicians and civil servants, as well as other individuals and legal entities. “It is likely that the operation may have been carried out by cyberattack units of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces (GRU). This is Russia’s military intelligence agency”, he said.
“Foreign intelligence services can use residential address data in various ways, depending on their objectives. The addresses of houses, apartments, and properties belonging to intelligence officers, military personnel, diplomats, and politicians are considered highly sensitive information, because those who possess them can conduct surveillance, exert pressure, and even pose a physical threat. With an exact address, it is possible to monitor a person’s routine — when they leave, when they return home, who visits them, and what routes they take. Physical surveillance can be carried out near the residence to identify networks of contacts, vulnerabilities, and to install surveillance equipment, cameras, or sensors,” the politician wrote.
“An address can also be used in cyber operations,” he continued.
According to him, in some cases addresses are also used for recruitment. “Leaked addresses can be used for intimidation or pressure — for example, by publishing them online while calling for violence, issuing threats, or otherwise targeting both the individual and members of their family,” Kasčiūnas noted.
He added that there is a high probability detailed information on intelligence officers and military personnel could be published online as “blacklists.” He also noted that the GRU gathers intelligence on strategically important individuals and facilities abroad. According to him, such data could be used in the first hours of a war or during a large-scale hybrid attack.
Deputy Editor
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