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Alarming cyber attack: schools in Demmin and Neustrelitz affected!
In the Mecklenburg Lake District there was a computer failure at schools in Demmin and Neustrelitz, presumably due to cyber attacks.
Alarming cyber attack: schools in Demmin and Neustrelitz affected!
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the schools in Demmin and Neustrelitz are currently at the center of a mysterious computer failure. Dieser Vorfall, der am Mittwoch auftrat, hat die digitale Infrastruktur der beiden Bildungseinrichtungen stark beeinträchtigt. Teachers, students and staff had to do without access to their usual electronic devices at times. Fortunately, a replacement system is now running and operations can gradually be resumed, as NDR reports.
The reason for the failure is still unclear. A comprehensive investigation has already been launched to determine the causes. Two school computers are under particular scrutiny because they may have caused the computer crash. Whether this is a malfunction or a targeted hacker attack remains to be seen. It is currently unclear whether faulty programs or even intentionally used malware led to the incident.
Increasing cyberattacks in the education sector
The incident in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is part of a worrying trend: cyber attacks on the education sector are increasing at an alarming rate. According to InfoPoint Security, there were an average of 1,673 attacks per week in 2024, an increase of 44% compared to the previous year. Educational institutions are often targets because they hold large amounts of sensitive data and often lack the resources or knowledge to protect themselves effectively.
Attacks mostly occur via email (68%) and the Internet (32%), with ransomware attacks being particularly damaging, costing educational institutions an average of $6.6 million in 2023. What is alarming is that only about 30% of victims fully recover from such attacks within a week.
Prevention and protective measures
In order to arm yourself against this growing threat, the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) recommends a number of measures. In its report, the BSI emphasizes the need for proactive cyber hygiene. This includes strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, regular software updates and training to raise awareness of phishing and social engineering. A good backup strategy and the implementation of secure IT solutions should not be neglected.
Especially in times when digital education is becoming increasingly important, it is obvious: schools must prepare themselves more strongly against cyber attacks. The increasing numbers show that the need for action is urgent. The incidents in Demmin and Neustrelitz could only be the tip of the iceberg if measures are not taken to improve IT security as quickly as possible.