The municipality of Herselt in Belgium has been the target of a cyberattack, prompting an investigation into the potential data breaches. While the extent of the damage is still being assessed, initial reports suggest that it is not severe.
However, the attack has caused significant disruptions to municipal services, with facilities closed until Monday.
Security measures were immediately heightened after the cyberattack was detected on Friday evening, and experts are currently combing through the municipality’s servers to determine whether any sensitive information has been accessed.
It remains unclear whether any data breaches have occurred, but the mayor has reassured citizens that any leaks would be limited.
Despite the lack of significant data breaches, the cyberattack has caused significant inconvenience to the municipality’s operations. Employees have been unable to send or receive emails, and services such as document requests, submissions, and the leisure center’s reservation system have been disrupted.
The town hall, library, and OCMW were closed on Tuesday due to the ongoing investigation, with the hope that they will be operational again soon.
As with many cyberattacks, the identity of the attackers remains unknown, and the municipality has not received any ransom demands.
While it is fortunate that the damage is not severe, the incident highlights the need for organizations to remain vigilant and prepared for cyber threats, which can cause significant disruptions to operations and potentially compromise sensitive information.
