The country's government is gradually losing control over cybersecurity.
On December 12, a district court in Switzerland announced that it was the victim of a cyberattack. The court, located in the German-speaking March district in the central part of the country, serves a population of about 45,000 people.
Details of the incident are not disclosed, but a limited description on the court's website hints at the possibility of an attack using ransomware. "The entire IT system was shut down for data protection. It is currently unclear when it will be available again, but it may take several days," the court's website states.
The court's phone lines are currently closed, but scheduled hearings should continue as normal.
This incident follows an attack on the municipal office of Zollikofen, a suburb of Bern, in November. According to local media, during this incident, the attackers encrypted administrative data, after which officials had to turn off their computer networks as a precautionary measure.
Earlier this year, the Swiss government issued a warning that official data of citizens could be accessed by attackers after an attack on a local IT company Xplain.
All these incidents highlight the vulnerability of government agencies to cyber threats. Even small district courts in countries with a policy of neutrality can become a target for hacker attacks. These attacks can directly affect the work of affected organizations, as well as compromise the confidential data of thousands of people.
To ensure the safety of citizens and the continuity of public services, such state organizations need to give priority to cybersecurity at all levels. The incidents of recent months demonstrate that Switzerland still has a lot of work to do in this direction.
On December 12, a district court in Switzerland announced that it was the victim of a cyberattack. The court, located in the German-speaking March district in the central part of the country, serves a population of about 45,000 people.
Details of the incident are not disclosed, but a limited description on the court's website hints at the possibility of an attack using ransomware. "The entire IT system was shut down for data protection. It is currently unclear when it will be available again, but it may take several days," the court's website states.
The court's phone lines are currently closed, but scheduled hearings should continue as normal.
This incident follows an attack on the municipal office of Zollikofen, a suburb of Bern, in November. According to local media, during this incident, the attackers encrypted administrative data, after which officials had to turn off their computer networks as a precautionary measure.
Earlier this year, the Swiss government issued a warning that official data of citizens could be accessed by attackers after an attack on a local IT company Xplain.
All these incidents highlight the vulnerability of government agencies to cyber threats. Even small district courts in countries with a policy of neutrality can become a target for hacker attacks. These attacks can directly affect the work of affected organizations, as well as compromise the confidential data of thousands of people.
To ensure the safety of citizens and the continuity of public services, such state organizations need to give priority to cybersecurity at all levels. The incidents of recent months demonstrate that Switzerland still has a lot of work to do in this direction.
