The Algerian hacker Zakaria Mahdjoub, known as “Bytetobreach,” has recently made headlines for his cyberattacks on various government authorities, banks, and airlines across several countries, including Ukraine, Poland, Cyprus, Chile, and the USA. His most impactful incident occurred in Romania, where he managed to delete the entire real estate database of the country, resulting in significant disruptions.
Cyberattack on the National Cadastre Office
In late 2025, Mahdjoub allegedly targeted the National Water Management Authority in Romania. Reports from Public Record suggest that he was also behind the attack on the Romanian National Agency for Cadastre and Land Registration (ANCPI). According to the Israeli cybersecurity firm Kela, Mahdjoub’s attacks have left the Romanian government scrambling to restore order.
The Impact of the Attack
Mahdjoub’s intrusion into the real estate and cadastre system had devastating consequences. Following a failed extortion attempt, he deleted all stored data and claimed to have ensured it could not be readily recovered. The ramifications for Romania were immediate and severe, effectively bringing the real estate market to a standstill.
Stolen Data Offered on the Dark Web
After the breach, the hacker put the stolen data for sale on the Dark Web. This includes login credentials from agency employees, internal documents, and detailed information about the ANCPI network. Mahdjoub reportedly gained access using valid login credentials, highlighting significant vulnerabilities in governmental cybersecurity protocols.
Real Estate Market in Turmoil
As a direct result of this cyberattack, the Romanian real estate market has experienced major disruptions. As of mid-July 2026, all operations have ground to a halt. Applications and websites associated with the ANCPI have been completely offline, preventing new transactions from being notarized and ownership certificates from being retrieved, as reported by Heise.de.
Romanian Government’s Response
Initially, the Romanian cadastre office attributed the disruption to technical issues instead of acknowledging the cyberattack. However, they later announced that they were undergoing reinstallation and consolidation processes. Contrary to earlier assertions, the ANCPI has claimed to have multiple backups of its systems, which raises questions about their preparedness for such attacks.
Future of the Real Estate Database
The agency has indicated plans to migrate its application to the cloud, with expectations for a restoration by July 22, 2026. This timeline will reveal whether Mahdjoub’s claims hold true—that the data is irretrievable—or if the agency can recover its lost information.
Lessons from the Incident
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cybersecurity measures, especially within governmental agencies that manage public records. Countries must continually update their security protocols to prevent future breaches. As technology evolves, so too must our defenses against cyber threats.
Conclusion
The Romanian cyberattack serves as a wake-up call for nations worldwide. As long as hackers like Mahdjoub exist, the integrity of our digital infrastructures is at risk. Governments must prioritize cybersecurity to safeguard sensitive data and maintain trust in public systems.
