Sachsen-Anhalt administration faces surge in cyber attacks

The Ministry for Infrastructure and Digital Affairs reported that IT‑security incidents in the state administration of Saxony‑Anhalt more than doubled in the first half of 2026, rising from 14 cases in the same period of 2025 to 30. The most common incidents were 16 phishing attacks, two distributed‑denial‑of‑service (DDoS) attacks, two system break‑ins, and nine instances of lost or stolen IT hardware.

Authorities noted that attackers increasingly target municipalities during the summer holidays when staffing is lower, prompting an “heightened alert” for the season. A pro‑Russian hack by the group NoName057(16) disrupted the state portal in the previous year. The state criminal police also observed a slight uptick in cyber‑crime against private individuals—mainly fraud on online marketplaces—and against businesses, where ransomware caused significant damage.