The City of Brussels recently announced that a cyberattack targeted one of its suppliers, resulting in the theft of personal identification data. The incident was disclosed on May 16, with city officials explaining that the data breach involved sensitive information potentially exploitable by cybercriminals. An investigation is underway to determine the specifics of the attack, including the extent of the data leak and the type of information compromised.
Authorities, including the Centre for Cyber Security Belgium and the Belgian Data Protection Authority, have been informed of the breach. Preventive and corrective measures have been initiated to mitigate further risks. The city has warned its 188,000 residents about the possibility of their personal data being used in phishing campaigns or other malicious activities, urging them to remain vigilant.
This cyberattack is not an isolated incident for Brussels. Earlier in February, several websites belonging to Belgian institutions, including the city’s and the Prime Minister’s, were briefly taken offline by a cyberattack. Additionally, in October, Russian hackers from “NoName057(16)” carried out a denial-of-service attack on the websites of the Royal Palace, the Prime Minister, and the Senate. These incidents highlight an ongoing threat to Belgian governmental and institutional digital infrastructure.
The city of Liège, another major Belgian city, also experienced a significant cyberattack in 2021 that disrupted administrative services for several weeks. The recurrence of these cyberattacks emphasizes the need for robust cybersecurity measures and continuous vigilance to protect sensitive data and ensure the integrity of public services.
