Argentina’s Airport Security Police (PSA) recently fell victim to a cyberattack that compromised the personal and financial data of its employees. The breach impacted both officers and civilian staff, according to local media reports.
How the Attack Happened
The hackers reportedly accessed PSA’s payroll system through a vulnerability in Banco Nación’s systems, the bank responsible for processing the agency’s payroll. Once inside, they siphoned small amounts of money from employees’ salaries. These unauthorized deductions, ranging between 2,000 and 5,000 pesos (roughly $100 to $245), were disguised under misleading labels like “DD mayor” and “DD seguros.”
Sources suggest the attack could have been conducted by individuals within Argentina or from abroad, possibly with help from insiders. So far, neither PSA nor Banco Nación has commented publicly on the incident or confirmed the breach.
PSA’s Response
Following the attack, the PSA restricted some of its services and initiated an internal cybersecurity awareness campaign. The full scope of the attack—including whether it was financially or politically motivated—and the total amount of stolen funds remain unclear.
Other Recent Cyberattacks in Argentina
This incident is part of a growing trend of cyberattacks in Argentina. In December, hackers targeted two e-government platforms, Mi Argentina and SUBE. The Mi Argentina app manages digital IDs and legal documents, while SUBE is used to manage public transport cards. Both platforms faced significant disruptions, exposing sensitive information about millions of citizens. Authorities linked the attack to a hacker using the alias “h4xx0r1337” but haven’t provided further details.
Earlier in July, Telecom Argentina suffered a ransomware attack, with hackers encrypting up to 18,000 workstations using stolen administrator credentials. In another case, cybercriminals reportedly accessed a database at the Central Bank of Argentina in April, revealing the names and ID numbers of its customers.
Takeaway
These incidents highlight the growing cybersecurity risks faced by organizations in Argentina.
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