Hacker attack on Berlin Senate administrations paralyzes authorities

After a hacker attack on two Berlin Senate administrations, there are serious disruptions. According to information from the DPA news agency, there is no internet connection or email communication, and working from home is not possible. “We are practically unable to work,” the “Tagesspiegel” quoted a traffic administration employee as saying. “Hardly anyone here believes there will be a solution by tomorrow.”

The Senate Chancellery announced on Monday afternoon that as a result of forensic investigations, “incrimination of the state network” had been determined. The Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing as well as the Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Environment and Climate Protection are affected. For security reasons, both were disconnected from the national network on Friday in order to prevent further damage.

Sensitive data leaked?

The Senate Chancellery provided little information. “For tactical reasons, no further concrete information can currently be given about the extent and background,” it said.

It also remained unclear whether data was leaked. “The forensic investigations are ongoing,” said Senate spokeswoman Christine Richter when asked. However, according to RBB information, sensitive data is said to have been leaked.

Public prosecutor's office is investigating

According to the Senate Chancellery, the State Criminal Police Office (LKA), the Berlin public prosecutor's office and the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) are involved. An investigation has been initiated as a result of the incident, said a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office. According to the Senate, an emergency crisis team has been set up under the direction of the state representative for information security, which will coordinate the next steps.

The IT specialist Manuel Atug has criticized the cybersecurity of the administration in light of the hacker attack on the Berlin Senate administration. During hearings by the House of Representatives, other experts and he agreed that Berlin was “very poorly” positioned in this area. “When we were asked again a few years later to provide an update because certain measures had been taken, we discovered that cybersecurity in Berlin had become even worse,” Atug told RBB.

Suggestions for improvement were not implemented. Atug also criticized the current crisis communication. "Usually you put up a website where you put an FAQ. So what are the questions that are regularly asked, what are the answers that you can give at that point," Atug said.