The Technical University of Moldova remains steadfast in its mission to build a healthy and secure cyber society through the “Cybercor” National Institute of Cybersecurity Innovations. Recently, at the invitation of Police Colonel Vitalie MOISEI and Chief Commissioner Ion INDRICEAN from the Ștefan cel Mare Police Academy, Dr. Dinu ȚURCANU, Associate Professor and Vice-Rector for Digitalization at UTM, as well as strategic coordinator of “Cybercor,” has been conducting a series of cybersecurity training sessions for employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) of the Republic of Moldova. These sessions, led by Dr. Țurcanu, highlight the importance of protecting personal data and increasing awareness about cyber-attacks.
During the meeting, the Vice-Rector discussed various real-life cyber-attack scenarios, emphasizing the need for proactive defense measures. He illustrated how hackers, often backed by governments or criminal organizations, use compromised devices to launch attacks and exploit system vulnerabilities. One notable example was the cyber-attacks on Australian networks by the APT40 group, which is supported by the Chinese Ministry of State Security.
To enhance the security level among MAI employees, Dr. Țurcanu offered several practical recommendations:
- Connect only to trusted networks – Avoid unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.
- Disable file and printer sharing – Limit unauthorized access.
- Access only secure sites (TLS/HTTPS) – Verify the security of the websites visited.
- Update software – Keep systems up to date to prevent vulnerability exploitation.
- Use a VPN – Ensure data privacy and security by encrypting internet traffic.
Dr. Țurcanu presented concrete cases of security breaches, including ransomware attacks that have impacted major organizations globally. A notable example is the recent incident where the BlackSuit ransomware group disrupted the South African National Health Service, deleting critical system sections and forcing the manual communication of laboratory results.
We believe that by acquiring the necessary knowledge and adopting appropriate practices, employees can significantly contribute to protecting information and maintaining the integrity of the systems they use.
The Technical University of Moldova, through the “Cybercor” National Institute of Cybersecurity Innovations, reaffirms its commitment to forming a secure cyber society prepared for contemporary challenges. The training session, led by Vice-Rector Dinu Țurcanu, focuses on providing essential knowledge to address cyber threats.
Through these educational initiatives, UTM and “Cybercor,” with financial support from the Republic of Moldova Development Foundation, the coordinator of the Google grant awarded to the “Cybercor” National Institute of Cybersecurity Innovations, not only strengthen national security but also underscore the vital role of cybersecurity education in developing a resilient digital society.
The mission of the “Cybercor” National Institute of Cybersecurity Innovations to train as many people as possible in cybersecurity is fundamental for developing a secure digital society. In this context, we extend our gratitude to Dr. Țurcanu and his team for their considerable efforts to transform theory into practice and provide high-quality training based on real and applicable examples. These initiatives not only enhance national cybersecurity but also highlight the crucial role of UTM and “Cybercor” in protecting the digital space.
