The Flemish employment agency VDAB experienced a significant cyberattack on Tuesday, during which hackers targeted the agency’s systems, causing a disruption to the website and various applications for hours. Fortunately, no personal data were compromised during the attack. The agency, along with its telecom provider Telenet, quickly responded by implementing digital filter blocks to fend off the attackers and restore normal operations by Tuesday night.
The cyberattack was one of the most severe the VDAB has faced since a similar incident in 2019. The agency confirmed that the attack seemed to originate from outside Europe. Despite the severity of the situation, the quick response ensured that the VDAB’s sensitive data remained secure, and no ransom or blackmail attempts followed.
Managing Director Wim Adriaens expressed apologies to those inconvenienced during the disruption and assured the public that the agency had made every effort to respond quickly and effectively. He emphasized that all systems were back to normal and that no data breaches occurred.
Adriaens also reassured users of the VDAB’s commitment to safeguarding the security of their website and the processing of personal data. He encouraged jobseekers or employers who may still face issues to contact the agency for assistance, ensuring continued support in the wake of the incident.
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