Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika

Algiers , Nov. 17, 2017 (AltAfrika)-Algeria’s state-run telecommunications company Algerie Telecom said on Friday that it came under a series of cyber attacks designed to hack and disrupt its system.

The attacks, however, failed and security services managed to identify and arrest the hackers, the company said in a statement.

In cooperation with security services, the company’s engineers neutralized the attacks and secured operational platforms, the statement added.

Recurring cyber attacks in Algeria have raised concerns over the safety of the recently adopted e-payment system for electricity and water bills.

Iman Houda Faraoun, Minister of Post, Information and Communication Technologies and Digital Economy, said the e-commerce bill, which had been approved by the Council of Ministers, will come into force as soon as it is approved by the parliament.

She promised that the e-commerce process will be fully protected, as e-financial transactions data, invoices and postal and bank cards will remain confidential.