The Bavarian state government in Germany recently experienced a cyber attack, with pro-Russian hacktivists suspected of being behind the incident. The attack targeted the State Chancellery and the State Ministry for Digital Affairs on February 16, 2025. Although there were some disruptions, including temporary unavailability of affected websites, no data was leaked or encrypted, and no significant damage was caused. The websites, including those of the Bavarian police, the Munich district office, and the city of Garching, were only offline for a short time.
The incident was quickly identified as a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, a common form of cyber assault aimed at overwhelming and disabling targeted websites.
The State Office for Information Security responded promptly, confirming the attack’s scope and assuring the public that no sensitive information had been compromised. Despite the disruptions, no confidential data or critical government systems were affected, and operations continued without major setbacks.
Authorities, including the State Criminal Police Office in Bavaria, are currently investigating the attack. However, it remains unclear whether the timing of the breach is linked to the Munich Security Conference, which was taking place around the same time. Investigators are examining all possible angles, and further updates are expected once the analysis is complete. In the meantime, the situation has raised concerns about the rising number of politically motivated cyber attacks, particularly those linked to hacktivism.
Once the investigation concludes, the case will be handed over to the police for further prosecution. The attack highlights the vulnerability of government websites to cyber threats and emphasizes the importance of strong cybersecurity measures. As the investigation progresses, authorities continue to monitor potential threats and ensure that any weaknesses in the system are addressed.
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