Several news portals under the Rheinische Post media group, including Rheinische Post, Saarbrücker Zeitung, and Aachener Zeitung, experienced significant disruptions or limited access due to a cyberattack. The attack, attributed to Circ IT, the in-house IT service provider, resulted in technical issues affecting the mentioned websites. As of now, these websites display a short message informing users about a general disruption. Some portals attempt to provide a reduced news overview, while ePaper editions of newspapers remain accessible. The attack, occurring on a Friday evening, is suspected to have utilized a supply chain strategy to compromise Circ IT.
The impacted media outlets currently offer only brief messages on their websites about the disruption. Despite the limitations on the main news portals, certain platforms still provide access to ePaper editions, and efforts are made to offer a condensed news overview on specific subpages. The cyberattack on Circ IT, initiated by unknown threat actors, has led to a situation where the full-service provider’s capabilities are temporarily unavailable. The attackers reportedly gained access through a supply chain attack, affecting the Rheinische Post media group’s websites and causing widespread technical challenges.
While the news portals of the Rheinische Post media group are grappling with the aftermath of the cyberattack, the attackers’ specific motivations and the extent of the damage are not yet fully disclosed. The incident highlights the vulnerability of media organizations to cyber threats, and the affected entities are working to restore normalcy and investigate the nature of the attack. As of the latest reports, Circ IT remains unavailable, underscoring the disruptive impact of the cyber incident on the media group’s IT service provider. The situation emphasizes the importance of robust cybersecurity measures for organizations, particularly those providing critical services like news dissemination.
