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Potsdam shuts down its internet server after a possible cyber attack

2022-12-30T05:38:52.251Z


Almost three years ago, the Potsdam city administration was the victim of a hacker attack. Now there was evidence of a new attack - the systems of all authorities are now offline.


Enlarge image

City hall of the state capital Potsdam: "To put our systems offline for security reasons"

Photo: Jürgen Ritter/ imago images

After indications of a cyber attack, Brandenburg's state capital Potsdam cut the administration's Internet connection.

»We have decided to put our systems offline for security reasons.

We have indications of a cyber attack and are working closely with the state and security authorities," said Mayor Mike Schubert (SPD) on Thursday.

According to the city, the administration is currently not available by e-mail.

All process software can also only be used to a limited extent.

In particular, applications for identity cards and passports as well as registrations and re-registrations are currently not possible.

However, the phones are not affected.

"We feel compelled to ask you for patience with all matters relating to the citizen service facilities," Schubert said.

The "Tagesspiegel" had previously reported.

The digital policy spokesman for the FDP Brandenburg, Matti Karstedt, called on the state government to make more intensive efforts to strengthen IT security.

"We must not allow cyber attacks to paralyze our infrastructure and hinder the work of the authorities," emphasized Karstedt.

»The state government must not continue to stand idly by and watch the recent increase in cyber crime and cyber terrorism.«

increase in cyber attacks

The Potsdam city administration was already the victim of a cyber attack at the beginning of 2020.

According to them, a vulnerability in the system of an external provider was responsible for this.

The city then shut down its servers for about a week.

In other German cities as well as in other European countries, there have been increasing attacks on computer systems for several years.

Hospitals in France, among others, were attacked several times, and in 2021 the district in Saxony-Anhalt was paralyzed after a devastating cyber attack.

Several servers in the district had been infected with ransomware: the data was encrypted, offices were unable to work.

mrc/dpa

Source: spiegel

All tech articles on 2022-12-30

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