Berlin Administration Hit by Major Cyberattack; Multiple Departments Shut Down
Berlin's city administration fell victim to a serious hacker cyberattack on August 18, forcing the shutdown of several departments and exposing sensitive data. Services related to housing, transportation, and climate protection were disrupted.
On August 18, the Berlin Senate announced it had become the target of a significant cyberattack, with several city departments forced to shut down as a result. Multiple government services including those handling housing, transportation, and climate protection went offline, leaving residents unable to reach city agencies for these essential services.
The Attack and Response
According to government sources, the data leaked during the breach was "in some cases highly sensitive" and could potentially affect other municipal departments and administrative buildings across the city. Berlin's Chief Digital Officer Florian Hauer indicated to local broadcaster rbb that the attack is assumed to be external in origin, though the exact timing of the initial breach and the identity of the perpetrators remain unclear.
The cyberattack represents a significant disruption to Berlin's administrative functions at a time when the city is preparing for elections in September. The extent of the data compromise and timeline for full service restoration have not been publicly detailed.
For expats and residents: If you need to access Berlin city services related to housing permits, transportation registration, or climate/environmental matters, you should expect significant delays. Consider contacting your local district office (Bürgeramt) directly by phone or checking the official Berlin government website for updates on when online services will be fully restored.
Sources
MyHAbroad is an independent app and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representing any government or public authority. This is general information only — not legal, tax, medical, or financial advice. Always verify with the official source before acting:
