(Ecofin Agency) - On November 17, 2017, the telecom operator Algérie Telecom has revealed it was hit by a major cyberattack. According to the State-owned firm, the attack aimed at hacking and blocking its system. 

It added that its IT engineers were able to stop the attack and secure operational platforms. With the collaboration of security services, Algérie Telecom further notified that the hackers were identified and arrested. 

Last March, it should be recalled, Algérie Telecom suffered a similar attack. That one, though it was not directly aiming at the operator, had nonetheless affected its Internet equipment and gravely impacted WordPress. 

In a study released to this effect, WordFence, WordPress’ security services provider, had indicated that the local routers of the operator served as gateways for the attacks. 97% of the more than 10,000 attacking IPs originated from these routers, WordFence had said. 

Responding to concerns of the ICT industry actors regarding the safety of the nation’s cyberspace, while Algeria is receiving more and more top notch electronic services, the minister of posts, information and communication technologies, Imane Houda Feraoun, reassured saying that the e-payment system is fully secured and that e-commerce which would soon be available in the country will also be, to preserve users’ confidential information.