Several Moldovans have taken to social media to complain that their personal data may have been accessed without authorisation through the EVO app. Many report that requests for civil status documents appeared in their personal accounts, particularly during the night.
Social media users say they did not request any documents. At the same time, they have posted screenshots indicating that the Electronic Governance Agency accessed their data.
Some citizens suspect the access may have been automated, while others say they are planning to sue the state. They have also speculated that the data of around 500,000 EVO users may have been leaked.
The Electronic Governance Agency said that, amid cyberattacks targeting government electronic services, possible unauthorised access to personal data had been identified. The authority said that checks are currently underway.
“We recommend increased vigilance against potential fraud attempts via phone calls, text messages or emails. Do not disclose passwords, authentication codes or banking details, and do not authorise transactions at the request of unknown individuals, even if they use your name or personal identification number (IDNP).
“We will provide further information as the verification results become available through the Electronic Governance Agency’s official communication channels,” the agency said in one of its responses, posted beneath a Facebook message from a citizen affected by the issue.
A series of cybersecurity incidents has been recorded since October 22. The attacks targeted several of the state’s digital public services, with the aim of extracting personal data.
The authorities announced that they had inspected government infrastructure, implemented the necessary security measures and taken steps to fully restore the affected services.