The Cook Islands government successfully fended off significant overseas hacking attempts aimed at its central network, Prime Minister Mark Brown revealed this week.
The government’s robust firewall security systems were able to withstand the intrusion attempts, though some local hospitality businesses were affected.
“We were able to provide support to reduce any damage caused by these cybersecurity threats,” Brown said.
The revelation came as the Prime Minister supported the passing of the Financial Transactions Reporting Amendment Bill 2024, which seeks to strengthen the country’s financial transparency in line with international standards.
The bill implements recommendations from the Global Forum on Transparency and the Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, aimed at improving the country’s ability to exchange tax-related information globally.
Brown stressed the importance of cybersecurity as the world shifts toward digital currencies, noting that several gaps were identified in the legal framework, which are being addressed ahead of a major review in 2025.