• The government, police, and prime minister’s offices’ websites have all been compromised.
• About 315,000 people, spread across numerous islands, are residing in Vanuatu.
• It has made it difficult for them to complete basic activities like paying bills or applying for visas.

After what is believed to have been a cyberattack on local servers, Vanuatu’s government was rendered inoperable for more than 11 days.

The government, police, and prime minister’s offices’ websites on the Pacific island have all been compromised.

Additionally, it has shut down all government services and agencies’ email systems, intranets, and internet databases for schools, hospitals, and other emergency services.

About 315,000 people, spread across numerous islands, are residing in the country, and the government closure has made it difficult for them to complete basic activities like filing taxes, paying bills, obtaining licenses, and obtaining travel visas.

Anyone who uses a gov.vu email address or domain has likely been impacted, residents told the media.

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Even so, government employees have made every effort to keep things running, with some even using personal email accounts and internet hotspots for crucial tasks.

Cheques have been used to pay employees in place of electronic transfers. One government employee described the experience of having to walk from department to department to get the necessary approvals and checks on an application.

Others have been manually taking notes.

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