The Münsterland-Recklinghausen Workers’ Welfare Association (Arbeiter-Wohlfahrt, AWO) has fallen victim to a significant hacker attack. This cyber incident has reportedly impacted around 300 facilities, including daycare centers and outpatient care services, creating substantial disruptions. Despite the lack of an official confirmation from AWO, media reports indicate that the cyberattack has paralyzed many of the association’s operations. On Wednesday afternoon, AWO’s federal association was unaware of the incident but promised a statement, and attempts to reach the Münsterland-Recklinghausen sub-district by phone were unsuccessful.
According to WDR, the attack began over the weekend when several employees opened phishing emails, leading to a second attack on Monday. As a precaution, the mail server was switched off, affecting communication across Münster and the districts of Steinfurt, Coesfeld, Borken, and Recklinghausen. AWO has confirmed on its homepage that one of its email accounts was used to send spam or phishing emails. These phishing emails typically contain links to manipulated websites designed to steal access data for fraudulent purposes. AWO has managed to stop the unauthorized sending of these emails and has warned recipients to delete any such messages immediately.
The full extent of the attack’s impact is still unclear, but it has significantly disrupted essential services. Outpatient care services, daycare centers, and open all-day schools are among the affected areas. There is no confirmed information on whether AWO customer data has been compromised, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the situation. Efforts to address and mitigate the attack are ongoing, but the incident highlights the vulnerabilities faced by organizations in the social services sector.
