The Police has confirmed that its official website was not affected during a recent cyberattack on its social media accounts and assured the public of the security of its new "eTraffic" app.
At a government media briefing, Police Media Spokesman SSP Buddhika Manatunga stated that the app will be available for download on the Play Store and Apple Store next week.
His remarks followed concerns raised by senior researcher Dr. Sanjana Hattotuwa about the app’s credibility due to the Police’s cybersecurity issues.
Dr. Hattotuwa highlighted that, contrary to promotional claims, the app is not yet on the Google Play Store, raising questions about its privacy and data protection measures.
SSP Manatunga clarified that while the Police’s YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter accounts were targeted in the attack, the official website remained secure. “We recovered all four social media accounts within a few hours, though the YouTube account took slightly longer. The website was not hacked or compromised,” he said.
Addressing privacy concerns, SSP Manatunga emphasized that the app does not store private user data and assured that any vulnerabilities will be resolved. “The Police have no ill intentions and only aim to engage the public in maintaining law and order,” he stated.
He also addressed surveillance worries, noting that experts were involved in the app’s development to ensure data protection.
