The Atacama Large Milimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observatory, located in San Pedro de Atacama, Atacama Region, denounced this Wednesday that its computer systems suffered a cyberattack. The attack occurred on October 29.
“Last Saturday, October 29, at 06:14 a.m., the ALMA observatory in Chile suffered a cyberattack on its computer systems, which forced the suspension of astronomical observations and its website,” the entity said on Twitter.
“The observatory’s email services are working in a limited way. The threat has been contained and our specialists are working hard to restore the affected systems,” they added.
They also indicated that “the attack did not compromise the ALMA antennas or any scientific data. Given the nature of the episode, it is not yet possible to estimate a time frame for the return to regular activities.”
Let us remember that ALMA is a partnership between Chile and the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.
ALMA services affected by cyber attack | Last Saturday, October 29, at 06:14 a.m., the ALMA observatory in Chile suffered a cyberattack on its computer systems, forcing the suspension of astronomical observations and its website.
— ALMA Observatory? (@ALMAObs_esp) November 2, 2022
