High North News

High North Dialogue attempted hacked

Trine Jonassen
hybrid threats high north dialogue

During this year's High North Dialogue conference in Bodø, Northern Norway, the conference received several emails regarding password resets. Someone was trying to access the conference's website.

This was reported by Nord University.

Communications advisor Markus J. Thonhaugen at the High North Center says they were well prepared.

"I was not worried. We had already changed to a strong password and backed up the website. Everything was in our risk assessment," says Thonhaugen.

The High North Dialogue brings together politicians, diplomats and business leaders from all over the Arctic. The threat picture from the Police Security Service, the National Security Authority, and the Intelligence Service is clear that such conferences can be arenas for intelligence.

Therefore, the High North Center began security work as early as late 2025.

Senior advisor John Viktor F. Skjerstad in the Department for Quality and HSE followed the process closely.

"The High North Center has been an example to follow for how security work at events should be done at Nord University," says Skjerstad.

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