‘Ireland is a sitting duck and Russia knows it’: Analysts explain why our schools and hospitals will be the next target of ‘hybrid’ cyber attacks as a senior security expert predicts that the State’s lack of a defense strategy WILL be exposed this week…

Security analysts say Ireland’s limited cyber defences and lack of a clear defence strategy could leave it vulnerable to hybrid attacks during this week’s European Political Community meeting in Dublin. They warn that threats against public services could disrupt the event and expose weaknesses to other European governments.

Around 50 leaders are expected, including Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and Canadian prime minister Mark Carney. Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has urged schools and hospitals to prepare after bomb hoaxes targeted Irish airlines and media organisations; several Dublin newsrooms, including RTÉ, were evacuated. The article reports expert concerns about possible cyber threats to hospitals, schools and airports, but does not establish who was behind the hoaxes.