A massive cyber attack against Slovakia is underway, Fico announced just before the demonstrations

Fico, who spoke at a press conference around 4 p.m., said that the attack began around noon and, according to experts, the VšZP is successfully defending itself against it, but it is not clear what will happen next.

“Basic health care may be at risk,” the Slovak prime minister said, adding that patient information may also be leaked. He also pointed out that the functioning of the e-Prescription and the approval or pre-approval of medicines for oncology or cardiology patients may be at risk in Slovakia.

According to Fico, this has not yet happened. “Who is interested in liquidating Slovak health care, complicating patients’ access to health care and letting their personal data circulate?” he asked the rhetorical question.

The Prime Minister also described the cyber attack on the state health insurance company as part of a textbook, model example of “how to eliminate naughty governments that have a different opinion on certain things.”

According to the Prime Minister, this “model” in Slovakia is implemented by representatives of the opposition, non-governmental organizations financed by foreign countries, a large part of the Slovak anti-government media and instructors from abroad who are on the territory of the Slovak Republic. At the same time, Fico announced that these instructors are about to be expelled.

Minister of Health Kamil Šaško added that the cyberattack continues, but so far all attempts at penetration have been repelled. He assured the inhabitants of Slovakia that the provision of all services provided by VšZP is not at risk.

“We continue to monitor the situation, but I can confirm that it is a massive attack,” added Šaško without further details.

The Prime Minister and the Minister of Health left the press conference without providing answers to the journalists’ questions or specifying what exactly the attack was.

“On Friday, January 24, the General Health Insurance Company became the target of a massive cyber attack. Despite this, there was no leakage of the insured’s data and health care is not at risk. VšZP is aware of the importance of processing and storing data on the health status of insured persons, and therefore pays maximum attention to the protection of personal data and implements measures to strengthen cyber security,” added VšZP.

A large-scale cyber attack in January also affected the information system of the Office of Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre of the Slovak Republic, which is used by the cadastral departments of district offices. The offices of the cadastral fields were therefore temporarily closed. Also this time, Slovak ministers led by the prime minister indicated that the attack could have been launched from Ukraine. Since last week, the operation of the cadastre fields has been restored.

Fico spoke at a press conference on Friday about an hour before the start of the anti-government protest in Bratislava and other cities. In recent days, he claimed that Slovakia is threatened with a coup attempt. According to him, the same international group is responsible for it as for “events in Ukraine and Georgia”.