In a troubling cybersecurity breach, hackers have compromised the payroll system of Argentina’s Policía de Seguridad Aeroportuaria (PSA), the country’s airport security force. The attackers infiltrated the system, stealing personal data from employees, including sensitive information about those involved in counter-terrorism efforts at major airports. This data could potentially be sold on the dark web, posing a significant risk to national security.
The breach also involved the manipulation of employees’ salaries. Hackers deducted small amounts, between 2,000 and 5,000 ARS, from workers’ paychecks under fictitious deductions such as “DD major” and “DD seguros.” This fraudulence raises concerns not only about the security of personal financial data but also about the integrity of the payroll system used by the PSA.
While the PSA has pointed fingers at Banco Nación, which processes employee salaries, the true origin of the attack remains unclear. Investigators suggest the breach may have involved external servers, or even the possibility of insider complicity. The question remains whether the hackers were able to exploit vulnerabilities within the bank’s system or whether they had access to the internal systems of the PSA itself.
The stolen data, particularly the list of PSA personnel responsible for counter-terrorism, is of high value on the dark web, where it could be exploited for malicious purposes. This breach highlights the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity measures within critical infrastructure systems, especially those responsible for national security. The incident serves as a wake-up call for other government agencies and private companies alike to reassess their vulnerability to similar attacks.
