The IT infrastructure of the Regional Church of Hanover, Germany, is currently under attack by cybercriminals, prompting the shutdown of central computer systems to prevent further damage from malware. While investigations are initiated by the State Office of Criminal Investigation, the perpetrators remain unidentified and no demands have been communicated. Affected entities include the State Church Office, the House of Church Services, and the Bishop’s Chancellery, experiencing disruptions in communication channels such as phone and email.
Despite the attack, crucial church operations like the ongoing regional church election, conducted online, remain unaffected, as they are hosted on servers provided by an external service provider. However, the duration of the attack’s impact remains uncertain, leaving affected systems and services in a state of uncertainty until the situation is resolved. This underscores the vulnerability of religious institutions to cyber threats and highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard sensitive data and ensure uninterrupted services.
With the involvement of the State Office of Criminal Investigation, efforts are underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, aiming to bring them to justice and prevent further disruptions to the church’s operations. As the investigation progresses, the church prioritizes the security and integrity of its IT infrastructure, working diligently to restore affected systems and mitigate future risks of cyber attacks.
