International Meteor Organization says cyberattack dealt ‘critical blow’ to website
The International Meteor Organization's website has been taken offline following a cyberattack, impacting its ability to share critical meteor data. The organization is working to restore its fireball reporting system and transition to new infrastructure, highlighting a broader trend of targeting space-related research institutions.
The International Meteor Organization (IMO) has experienced a significant disruption to its online presence due to a cyberattack. The IMO’s website is currently displaying a static message informing visitors about the incident and outlining a period of partial downtime as the organization implements new infrastructure and services. The organization stated that it prioritized restoring its fireball reporting system, which remains operational for users to submit observations. The IMO, based in Belgium, plays a vital role in establishing global standards for meteor observations and maintaining a database of reports including photographic and telescopic data. The attack comes amidst growing concerns about cyberattacks targeting space-related research and U.S. agencies involved in space exploration, with similar incidents occurring against institutions like the National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory in Hawai'i and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) observatory in Chile. The American Meteorological Society was also targeted by ransomware in 2023. As of Wednesday afternoon, no specific hacking group has claimed responsibility for the attack.