Brandenburg Memorial Sites Foundation hit by ransomware attack

The Stiftung Brandenburgische Gedenkstätten (Brandenburg Memorial Sites Foundation) has fallen victim to a serious ransomware attack. Discovered on August 5, the incident has rendered the entire IT system of the foundation's headquarters and its seven memorial sites non-functional.

Foundation Director Axel Drecoll described the attack by professional IT criminals as a “severe setback.” While the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, the foundation believes the attackers not only encrypted data but also downloaded it. Affected sites include the Sachsenhausen and Ravensbrück memorials.

As an immediate precaution, all internet and network connections were severed to take the systems offline. The foundation is working with an external IT security provider and conducting digital forensic investigations. Law enforcement and data protection authorities have been notified.

Despite the technical disruption, visits to the memorial sites remain possible without restrictions. However, the foundation has warned that because data may have been leaked, there is an increased risk of phishing, spam, or invoice fraud involving the foundation's name or data from partners and visitors.