Hackers attack software supplier of five Limburg municipalities

Criminals have attacked a software supplier of five municipalities in South Limburg. The attack left some systems unusable for ‘about a week’. The municipalities say there is ‘no indication’ that data has been stolen.

The municipalities call it in a joint statement not specifically a ransomware attack, but it appears that the software vendor was affected. The hackers attacked a social domain administration system. The system is used, among other things, for processing applications for social assistance benefits, energy allowances, social assistance benefits and youth care. The municipalities affected are Eijsden-Margraten, Gulpen-Wittem, Kerkrade, Meerssen and Vaals.

Files were locked due to the attack. The municipalities say a cybersecurity agency has investigated the attack. They do not mention the name of the organization that conducted the investigation, nor the name of the software supplier. Based on this research, the municipalities say that there is ‘no indication’ for data theft. The municipalities do not say which files the hackers had access to.

The attack took place on July 27. Services would now resume as usual. Against 1 Limburg A spokesperson for the municipality of Eijsden-Margraten says that ‘the internal operational management has been delayed ‘because systems were not accessible for about a week’.