Cyberattacks are increasing in Switzerland, affecting municipalities, banks and even the federal administration. These attacks rendered several services unusable, although no data leaks were reported. Friborg seems spared for the moment, but the risk is still present.
In recent days, the Zurich and Vaud cantonal banks, as well as several Lucerne municipalities, have been targeted by computer hackers. In Geneva and Sierre, services were paralyzed for several hours. In June 2023, the site of the City of Friborg was also affected, although the canton seems less affected today.
Michael Mäder, professor at the University of Engineering and Architecture in Fribourg, explains that hackers often target the most vulnerable infrastructure or those that can cause the most damage. “They attack where they can do the most harm,” he emphasizes. For municipalities, the risks are multiple: blocking of online services, theft of sensitive data (AVS numbers, dates of birth, etc.), even ransom demands.
Hackers with access to this kind of information can also quickly become dangerous, “because this data can be used to carry out other, much more targeted attacks.”
To protect yourself, the expert recommends what he calls good “cyber hygiene”:
-- Install regular software updates.
- Use an effective antivirus.
- Create complex passwords and above all never share them.
- Train users to adopt secure behaviors.
And precisely, the Association of Friborg Municipalities offered this Thursday an information session on cybersecurity in collaboration with the School of Engineering and the cantonal police. Of the 127 municipalities in the canton, 81 French speakers and 23 German speakers are registered to attend this training.
RadioFr. – Camille Berset / mp
Swiss
