Meteor observation nonprofit hit by cyberattack
The International Meteor Organization (IMO), a nonprofit coordinating meteor observations, reported its infrastructure suffered a "critical blow" from a cyberattack. Several weeks of partial downtime are expected as the organization transitions to new systems.
The International Meteor Organization (IMO), a nonprofit that coordinates and publishes amateur and professional observations of meteor phenomena, has stated that its infrastructure has suffered a "critical blow" from a cyberattack.
"We recently suffered a cyberattack that dealt a critical blow to aging infrastructure, taking much of our site offline," the organization said on a static webpage Wednesday. "We expect several weeks of partial downtime as we transition to new infrastructure and services."
In the interim, the IMO is prioritizing the reporting of fireball observations, which can be submitted via its website. The organization is also providing some updates on its Facebook page.
The attack disrupts the IMO's ability to collect and disseminate vital data on meteor activity, impacting scientific research and public awareness of celestial events. Recovery efforts are underway to restore services.