Scammers repeatedly try to collect ransom money through blackmail. The BKA and BSI warn: Do not pay a ransom and report any attempt.
The BKA and BSI issue recommendations on how to deal with blackmail and IT attacks
Local governments should not give in to blackmail.
Every ransom demand must be consistently reported.
The Federal Criminal Police Office, in cooperation with the Federal Office for Security, announces the following via press release:
The municipal umbrella organizations, together with the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) and the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), have issued recommendations on how to deal with ransom demands in attacks on local governments using blackmail Trojans.
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Malware attacks on the IT of local governments and municipal institutions are becoming more and more common around the world, but also throughout Germany. The aim is to inject a malicious program in order to encrypt existing data and extort a ransom.
“We must not give in to such ransom demands. It must be clear that local governments cannot be blackmailed. Otherwise criminals will be given incentives to continue their actions. The attitude of our administrations here must be crystal clear and non-negotiable,”
presidents of the German Association of Cities, the German District Association and the German Association of Cities and Municipalities put it Uwe Brandl (Abensberg) .
“Every attempt at blackmail must be consistently reported and prosecuted. A zero-tolerance policy must apply to such attacks on the functionality of municipal services, citizens’ data and their tax money.”
At the same time, the presidents made it clear that the cities, districts and municipalities are continuing to work resolutely to protect their IT systems from any attacks as best as possible.
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Holger Münch, President of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA):
“Affected municipalities should never respond to blackmail attempts by cybercriminals. Because in doing so they support the blackmailers’ “business model”. In addition, in many cases it turns out that victims make their payments for free: the data remains encrypted and the perpetrators continue their crimes unhindered.
Local governments can help break this pattern by alerting the relevant authorities, thereby enabling law enforcement. And by taking preventive measures to effectively protect their computer systems.”
Arne Schönbohm, President of the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI):
“The best protection against ransom demands from cyber criminals is consistently implemented IT security measures. This is a continuous process that the Federal Office for Information Security supports, for example with the IT-Grundschutz profile for municipalities.
In addition to the essential prevention measures, the BSI also offers information on first aid for IT security incidents. Effective emergency management can significantly minimize the effects of a cyber attack. The BSI is also happy to provide advice to municipalities in this regard.”
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Source: Federal Criminal Police Office
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