Trinidad and Tobago‘s National Insurance Board (NIBTT) encountered a ransomware attack, forcing its closure for several days. The agency, managing social security for over 630,000 individuals, declared an assessment of systems integrity and hardware following the December 26 attack. Collaborating with external tech partners, the NIBTT reported the incident to Trinidad and Tobago’s Cyber Security Incident Response Team (TT-CSIRT) under the Ministry of National Security.
Despite the attack’s impact on the country’s social security system, details about the ransomware group responsible or any ransom demands remain undisclosed. The incident mirrors a past ransomware strike on Trinidad and Tobago’s justice department, paralyzing the court system for weeks. Preceding this incident, an advisory from TT-CSIRT warned organizations to brace against rising ransomware threats.
Throughout 2023, multiple Caribbean nations, including Bermuda, Martinique, and Guadeloupe, encountered ransomware assaults, revealing the vulnerability of governments lacking robust cybersecurity defenses. In Costa Rica, a substantial government-targeted incident prompted international efforts to combat ransomware, expanding the Counter Ransomware Initiative to encompass nearly 40 countries and the European Union.
