Hacker attack on state registries: is it worth checking property rights?
24 December 2024 16:52
ANALYSIS FROM 
Following the recent hacking of state registers, Ukrainians have faced serious questions about the security of their personal data and property rights. Anna Daniel, attorney at law, PhD in Law and head of the law firm, in an exclusive commentary
What is the State Register of Rights and why has its work been suspended?
“The State Register of Rights to Real Estate is the only state information system that ensures the processing, storage and provision of information on registered rights to real estate and their encumbrances,” explains Anna Daniel.
The registry is regulated by the Law of Ukraine “On State Registration of Real Property Rights and Encumbrances”. Previously, citizens could receive information about their property electronically, for example, through the Diia app. The service was provided quickly – within an hour – and cost from UAH 40.
However, after the cyberattack, access to the registry was suspended.
“When there is no access to the registry, it is impossible to carry out any legal actions with real estate. At the moment, we can only hope that the registries will resume their work as soon as possible,” says Anna Daniel.
Is there a risk of data falling into enemy hands?
Data leakage from state registries is one of the biggest risks in this situation.
“Undoubtedly, there is a risk that the information will fall into the hands of the enemy. It can be catastrophic, as we are talking about the personal data of millions of Ukrainians. How exactly this information can be used by the Russian Federation remains a rhetorical question,” emphasizes Anna Daniel.
Despite the official statements of the Minister of Justice, who denies the fact of the leak, the situation is of serious concern. The SBU has already opened criminal proceedings and is conducting relevant examinations. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that such events can have long-term consequences, adds Anna Daniel.
How are the key institutions working now?
Despite the suspension of registries, notaries are already issuing powers of attorney and other documents in paper form. Banks are also continuing to work, processing documents and waiting for full access to the registers to be restored, emphasizes
“Business has taken a break from changes to the registers. The winter holidays help to mitigate the situation, as no major corporate changes are currently planned,” says expert Oleksiy Volokhov.
The issue of data security remains the most acute.
“Currently, there are various theories about where the data was stored, from optimistic to conspiratorial. According to my information, they were in cloud storage abroad,” says Oleksiy Volokhov.
However, given the long time it takes to restore the registries (according to the Ministry of Justice, it can take up to two weeks), it is possible that the data or their architecture has been damaged. However, the lawyer is confident that restoring access to the registries is only a matter of time.
Is it worth checking property rights?
Experts advise to closely monitor updates on the operation of the registries and be prepared to check your property rights immediately after access is restored. Ukrainians should remain vigilant and be prepared to respond to any suspicious activities that may be related to their real estate. It is also important to follow official notifications to learn in time about the restoration of the system, the lawyer recommends.
Verification of property rights is never superfluous, especially in the face of a hacker attack, emphasizes Volokhov. According to him, even without such cyberattacks, there are risks associated with fraud or technical errors.
“It is necessary to verify property rights and it will be quite easy to do it with the existing services in Diia and the State Enterprise NAIS after the registers resume their work,” Oleksiy Volokhov said
The hacker attack on the state registries was another reminder of the importance of cybersecurity, especially in times of war. The information front remains one of the main fields of confrontation.
On December 20, a major cyberattack on Ukraine’s state registries took place, which led to the suspension of digital services of the Ministry of Justice. The attack was carried out by Russians to disrupt the critical infrastructure of the state. The investigation is ongoing, and it may take weeks to restore the registries. It is likely that Russian special services were involved in the attack.
Author – Anastasia Fedorova
