Hacker attack paralyzes police MV: over 3,500 cell phones unusable!

Hacker attack paralyzes police MV: over 3,500 cell phones unusable!

The state police Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is currently being hit by a serious hacker attack that potentially affects 3,500 service cell phones and thus has a significant impact on police work. These smartphones, which were only purchased in autumn 2020, must probably be removed from the network due to the attacks, according to the Interior Ministry. The Ministry of the Interior initially only reported a limited use, but now it is clear that the devices must no longer be switched on, which is massive in the internal communication of the police. Radio traffic thus experiences an unexpected renaissance, because the officials have to fall back on old radio devices, which severely limits the effectiveness of police work in some situations.

such as NDR. Internal information such as user names, ranks and email addresses may have been tapped. While data on ongoing investigations are supposedly not affected, this attack shows how susceptible systems that can be safely believed can be in public administration.

political reactions and demands

The incident does not remain without political consequences. The State Criminal Police Office has already started investigations into the perpetrators. The police union (GdP) sees this attack as a setback for police work and urgently demands investments in modern material and qualified staff. The case is also discussed in the state parliament. CDU and AfD accuse the Ministry of ignoring warnings to possible hacking risks. On the other hand, the Greens call for more transparency and insight into the classification of the report as a cladding matter. Interior Minister Christian Pegel is therefore under pressure because the opposition demands after a comprehensive information.

The situation is not just a local problem. According to [BKA] (https://www.bka.de/shahareddocs/kurzmeldungen/de/warn einungen/211102_cyber attacks_wandtml), an increase in ransomware attacks in Germany can be observed. These attacks can result in massive financial damage and loss of sensitive data. The BKA recommends revising the IT security concepts and training the staff in cyber security. These include regular updates of the systems and safety precautions in order to be able to better counter the risk of cyber attacks.

A look into the future

The current situation makes it clear that cybersecurity is not only a technical problem in the police, but also a security policy. It remains to be seen how quickly the police in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania can restore their ability to work and which teachings from this incident must be taken for future measures. Without a doubt, this episode will not only remember today's, but also of the coming generations. The debate about dealing with cyber risks will have to gain a trip in this country to prevent similar incidents in the future.