LatinNews Daily - 25 April 2022

*Central America’s customs committee (UAC), which is part of the Central American Integration System (SICA), has activated a contingency plan for regional computer systems in response to a series of cyberattacks which took place on Costa Rica’s state computer systems last week. Russia-based cybercrime group Conti has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attacks which affected various Costa Rican institutions, including the finance ministry, involving services including tax collection and import/export processes. However, the Costa Rican government has not confirmed the origin of the attacks. President Carlos Alvarado has said that the Costa Rican state would not “pay anything to these cybercriminals” in response to what is believed to be a ransomware attack, suggesting rather that it was aimed at destabilising the country ahead of the transition of government with President-elect Rodrigo Chaves poised to take over on 8 May. Christian Rucavado, executive director of Costa Rica’s chamber of exporters (Cadexco) told the media that the attack had collapsed the country’s import and export logistics, adding that as yet there was no estimate for the resultant economic losses.

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