Altaposten

Mediehuset Altaposten, also known simply as Altaposten, is a Norwegian media organisation that publishes the newspaper Altaposten in both print and digital formats. The organisation provides news coverage through its printed edition, its website and associated digital platforms. Its online platform continues to operate and offers content freely to readers even when other services are disrupted. Altaposten serves the local community in the Alta region of Norway, delivering regional news, events and information. The newspaper is part of the broader media landscape that includes affiliated outlets such as Radio Alta and the Sami newspaper Avvir.

Altaposten distinguishes itself by maintaining a long‑standing print tradition, with the 2025 incident marking the first time in 51 years that the print edition was not issued. This longevity underscores the newspaper’s deep roots in the local community and its role as a trusted source of regional information. The organisation’s coverage includes topics relevant to the Sami population, reflecting its connection to the Sami newspaper Avvir and the cultural context of Finnmark. Despite the cyber attack that forced the shutdown of print and several internal systems, the digital edition and website remained accessible, demonstrating a degree of operational resilience. The incident highlighted how Altaposten’s infrastructure is interlinked with other local media services, as security measures also interrupted Radio Alta’s broadcast and Avvir’s print output.

On 27 May 2025 Altaposten experienced a data attack on its servers that disrupted the production of both print and digital editions. The attack led to the unprecedented cancellation of the print edition and prompted the organisation to shut down other systems as a precaution. As a result, Radio Alta’s broadcast was interrupted and the print output of the Sami newspaper Avvir was similarly affected. Norwegian authorities were notified and IT experts were engaged to contain the damage and restore normal operations. While the online platform continued to function and provide free content, the impact of the incident remained largely confined to the local area. Altaposten’s headquarters are located in Norway, anchoring its operations within the country’s media sector.