Hacker attack on Bergen: administration paralyzed – what now?

Hacker attack on Bergen: administration paralyzed – what now?

Bergen on Rügen.Red alert in the town hall! Mayor Anja Ratzke (independent) confirmed a devastating hacker attack on the administration on Monday. The cybercriminals have paralyzed the digital systems - the entire administration is unable to act! “Our data has been encrypted and the administration is currently not operational,” says Ratzke. The police are already on site and are working with IT specialists to restore the systems as quickly as possible. “There are several approaches that need to be examined now,” she adds.

Despite the digital catastrophe, the town hall remains open! “We can still be reached by phone,” emphasizes Ratzke. Citizens can contact departments such as the residents' registration office or the housing benefit office using the usual telephone numbers. The city's website is also online, but there may be delays in reaching the contact person. However, appointments that were booked online must be canceled and the mayor asks for your understanding.

Background of the attack

A dark shadow lies over the region: just last November, the Vorpommern-Rügen district was hit by a similar cyber attack. The consequences were catastrophic - administration was restricted for months, communication only worked by telephone, fax and post. The investigation was unsuccessful and those responsible could not be identified. The Rostock public prosecutor's office stopped its investigation in spring 2024 because there were no longer any promising approaches. It remains unclear whether the district was targeted or was part of a larger attack.