The incident highlights Argentina’s growing vulnerability to cybercrime
Argentina’s Airport Security Police (PSA) have fallen victim to a cyberattack that compromised personal and financial information of its officers and civilian staff. Local media reports suggest that the attackers managed to access PSA payroll records, fraudulently deducting small amounts from employees’ salaries.
The unauthorised deductions, ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 pesos (USD 100 to USD 245), were reportedly labelled under misleading descriptions such as “DD mayor” and “DD seguros.” Sources within the PSA have indicated that the breach occurred via a vulnerability in the systems of Banco Nación, the bank responsible for processing the agency’s payroll. The attack is believed to have been orchestrated either from within Argentina or abroad, potentially with insider assistance.
Neither the PSA nor Banco Nación has officially commented on the incident or confirmed the extent of the breach. However, in response to the attack, PSA has temporarily suspended some services and initiated an internal cybersecurity awareness campaign. Authorities are investigating whether the attack was financially or politically motivated, as the total amount stolen remains unclear.
The incident highlights Argentina’s growing vulnerability to cybercrime. Just last month, hackers breached two major e-government platforms, exposing sensitive information about millions of citizens. The affected platforms included the Mi Argentina app, used for managing digital IDs and legal documentation, and the SUBE app, which supports public transport card management. The cyberattackers, operating under the alias “h4xx0r1337,” have yet to be identified, and details about their motives remain scarce.
Earlier this year, Telecom Argentina fell prey to a ransomware attack, where up to 18,000 workstations were encrypted using stolen administrative credentials. Additionally, in April, hackers reportedly gained access to a Central Bank of Argentina database, compromising the personal information of its customers.
These incidents underscore the urgent need for strengthened cybersecurity measures across critical systems in Argentina, as the nation grapples with an alarming rise in cyber threats targeting both public and private sectors.
