The national airline of Côte d'Ivoire, Air Côte d'Ivoire, has confirmed it was the target of a cyberattack that occurred on February 8 but was only made public on February 20. The company issued a statement indicating that there was an 'illegal extraction of files containing sensitive data,' though it clarified that air traffic was not disrupted as a result of the incident. This revelation has led to questions surrounding the safety and security of passenger information held by the airline.

According to sources within the airline, the attack was classified as ransomware, suggesting that malicious software was used to compromise the airline's computer systems. It is reported that files were copied from the airline's systems before they were encrypted, potentially blocking access to the data. As organizations increasingly face cybersecurity threats, this incident underscores the vulnerability of companies in the aviation sector to such attacks.

The implications of this cyberattack could be far-reaching, particularly in terms of passenger trust and regulatory scrutiny. Stakeholders will be closely watching Air Côte d'Ivoire's next steps in addressing the breach, including how they manage the fallout regarding sensitive data and what measures will be implemented to enhance cybersecurity in the future. As the details continue to unfold, the airline's response will be critical in rebuilding confidence among its customer base and ensuring compliance with data protection regulations.