Berlin restores state network services after major cyberattack

Berlin's state administration has successfully reconnected several departments to the state network following a severe cyberattack discovered on August 14, 2026. The affected departments include the Senate Departments for Urban Development, Building and Housing, as well as Mobility, Transport, Environment and Climate Protection.

The nine-day technical isolation required to prevent the spread of malware caused significant disruptions to social services. Specifically, housing allowance payments for over 50,000 households were stalled, and processing for the education and participation package was also affected. Governing Mayor Kai Wegner confirmed that while services are being reactivated, some residual impairments may persist during the transition.

Despite the reconnection, Berlin's Chief Digital Officer Florian Huber cautioned that it is too early to declare the incident resolved. While there is currently no evidence that sensitive data has been leaked, Huber noted that investigations by the State Criminal Police Office and the public prosecutor's office are ongoing. He highlighted structural deficits in Berlin's IT infrastructure that must be addressed to improve resilience. Additionally, Interior Senator Iris Spranger clarified that the upcoming September elections' infrastructure was not targeted by the attack.