Cyberattacks are a “daily problem” for organizations in Belgium, and many companies have already succumbed to this threat, she explained. Ragheno made the comment while speaking to Bel-RTL during an interview on Monday, highlighting the “worrying” nature of a recent ransomware attack that forced authorities in Antwerp to shut down several city services. “We must realize that a municipal administration holds an incredible amount of data on citizens. Your whole life, your identity card, information on your building permit…It’s huge information. The judicial police have also been blocked so there may also be information on investigations,” Ragheno said.
‘600 Attacks Per Week’
According to Ragheno, Belgian companies have to fend off about 600 cyberattacks weekly. “Most of them are thwarted and fortunately, otherwise it would be unlivable. The life of our companies could not continue,” she said. Critics have long criticized Belgium’s poor cybersecurity defenses, but Ragheno said authorities are taking steps to combat cyber threats. In recent weeks, three different ransomware attacks have been reported in Belgium — in Antwerp, Diest, and Zwijndrecht. On December 12, the country’s Cyber Emergency Response Team released an advisory on how companies can protect their systems from ransomware attacks and how to respond if their systems are compromised. Following the ransomware attack on the City of Antwerp’s systems earlier this month, various services are yet to be brought back online. City authorities have been tight-lipped about plans to restore key services. On Sunday, Antwerp Mayor Bart De Wever acknowledged the “digital lockdown” but said authorities are working to restore crucial services quickly. Some services may not be restored until January 2023, according to The Brussels Times.
A Spate of Cyberattacks in 2022
There have been a series of cyberattacks in 2022, and public agencies have not been spared. Cyberattacks on the digital infrastructure of New Zealand and Montenegro made certain public services and websites inaccessible for some time earlier this year. Hackers have also targeted public transport systems in Honolulu and Denmark, causing momentary disruptions. Cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated techniques to breach the cyber defenses of organizations. Threat intelligence firm Mandiant predicts that cyber threats will continue to evolve and threat actors will change their “tactics, techniques, and procedures” in the coming year. In its 2023 cybersecurity forecast, Mandiant also predicts a spike in ransomware attacks in Europe, warning that the region may surpass the U.S. as the most targeted part of the world. The best ways to protect yourself and your organization from ransomware attacks are to strengthen your defenses and learn about the modus operandi of ransomware operators. Our in-depth explainer on ransomware contains valuable information on how to prevent this malware from infecting your systems.
