The Center for Public Acts (The Public Center for Social Action, CPAS) in Charlerua, Belgium, temporarily suspended the work of several units due to cyber attacks. Representatives said this on Tuesday, adding that the “emergency services” did not close as an exception.
According to CPAS specialist, Didier Neerink, although the cyber attacks did not cause a breakdown of all affected systems, most of them were turned off for safety purposes. “We are now evaluating the scale of damage,” he explained.
While the official details about the attack have not been disclosed, local newspaper sudinfo reported that the incident is linked to a cyber intrusion and the attackers have already made their demands.
CPAS operates in 581 municipalities of Belgium, providing a wide range of social services, including financial assistance, housing, and medical and legal consultations.
The leadership stated that nursing homes and social service centers are still functioning in the usual manner. “We are adapting our work processes to ensure that all tasks are completed,” added Neerink, who expects the rest of the services to resume on Monday. Until then, the staff will rely on pen and paper for record-keeping and reporting.
Cyber attacks on state organizations in Belgium are not uncommon and are comparable in scale to incidents in other European countries. For instance, a recent cyber attack on a hospital in Brussels resulted in redirecting ambulance brigades to other institutions.
Currently, there is no exact information about the motives behind the attackers or their identity.