Saxony-Anhalt in cyber chaos: Another hacker attack on government websites!

Saxony-Anhalt in cyber chaos: Another hacker attack on government websites!

On Sunday, July 14, 2025, pro-Russian hackers once again attacked the websites of the state government of Saxony-Anhalt. This is the notorious hacker group “NoName057(16)”, which initiated similar attacks on the Ministry of Infrastructure last week. In many cases, the websites remained temporarily inaccessible, which posed challenges for users of the state portals. Loud MDR There was recently a first attack that affected the websites of the State Chancellery and the Digital Ministry.

The problem of cyber attacks is not new. However, Dataport's IT service providers, who are responsible for the security and maintenance of the online presence, have assured that the defense mechanisms work “perfectly”. However, due to the attacks, access to the websites may be restricted, especially in the coming days, as geo-blocking measures are active to protect systems from being overloaded by the massive flood of automated requests. Such DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks are designed to load servers beyond their capacity so that normal access is no longer possible.

Technological measures and prevention

In order to counteract the dangerous situation, Saxony-Anhalt has been planning to use new technologies since 2024 that will enable faster detection and defense of such attacks. Those responsible are already monitoring the current situation, which is made even more difficult by the ongoing cyber attacks. In recent years, cybercrime has become highly professionalized and poses a serious threat to IT security in Germany, reports das BSI.

The cybersecurity authority highlighted alarming developments in its 2024 situation report. Digitalization has increased the attack surfaces and increasingly critical vulnerabilities are emerging that are exploited by cybercriminals. What is particularly noteworthy is that the number of high-volume DDoS attacks increased significantly in the first half of 2024. The BSI therefore recommends close cooperation between manufacturers, operators and consumers to strengthen resilience against cyber attacks.

The question of connections and further victims

Interestingly, it remains unclear whether there is a connection between the attacks on the state government and the recent hacker attack on the Ameos clinic group. This incident led to a nationwide IT outage and highlights how far-reaching the impact of cyberattacks can be.

In view of these ongoing threats, it is also being examined whether legal action will be taken against the attackers. The security of citizens and the functionality of public services are the top priority here and make it clear: In today's digital world, you have to have a good knack for cyber defense.