Düsseldorf.
A large number of cyber attacks on ministries, state companies, authorities and schools in NRW were counted last year.
There were 28 cyber attacks in the past year Ministries, state companies, authorities and schools in NRW been counted. The Ministry of Justice was attacked five times. In only one case did an attack have a major impact – at the State Office for Information and Technology. This emerges from a government statement for the state parliament.
Die AfD faction had asked about the cyber attacks. After the outbreak of the Ukraine war, the number did not increase very much, according to the government list. According to this, exactly 24 attacks were counted in 2021, just four fewer than in 2022. Last year, in addition to the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of the Interior, Homeland, Family and the Environment were affected. The other attacks were aimed at the Arnsberg district government, the state archive, four schools and the Werl prison, among others.
Recent attacks on universities not included in the listing
According to the government, the State Office for Central Police Services and the Herne Training Academy have been victims of cyber attacks so far this year. The most recent attacks on universities were not included in the list.
The answer to the AfD’s small inquiry states that the invasion of Russian troops in Ukraine has put the cyber defense of the NRW constitutional protection system on “higher alert”. Therefore, immediately after the start of the war, companies and institutions that were potentially particularly at risk – including the state administration – were made particularly aware.
Also read: Cyber attacks: How NRW is arming itself against Putin’s hackers
The current report for the protection of the constitution states: “In North Rhine-Westphalia, no serious cyber security incidents are known that are directly related to the Ukraine war. However, there is still a risk that the increased number of cyber attacks in Ukraine will have side effects in Germany.” (dpa)
More articles from this category can be found here: State politics
