The University of Neuchâtel website was functioning again on Friday evening following a cyberattack but an investigation continues into the scope of the problem. The university is the latest Swiss institution to fall victim to a cyber attack.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/jc
“The attack comes from a malicious software that can automatically generate a message on the workstations saying that some files have been encrypted,” said the university in western Switzerland on Friday evening on its website. The IT system found that there had been encryption.
After the first signs of the cyberattack late on Thursday, the university in western Switzerland took security measures, including blocking all its computer systems, Nando Luginbühl, head of its press office, confirmed on Friday. This made it impossible to work or study.
The university said on Friday evening that it wasn’t possible to know if any data had been intercepted and IT teams were still looking into the scope of the problem, contain it and reactive other services.
There has been a recent upsurge in cyberattacks in Switzerland. Price comparison website Comparis was shut down in July by attackers demanding $400,000 (CHF370,000) to put it back online. At the time, a Comparis spokesperson told SWI swissinfo.ch that no ransom had been paid.
The Stadler rail company, defence contractor RUAG, and the canton Vaud municipality of Rolle have also been targets.
Companies warned
Meanwhile, the National Cyber Security Centre has sent a registered letter to 130 companies and local authorities urging them to install security patchesExternal link for Microsoft Exchange Servers, which are used to manage emails, meetings and contacts, for example.
“The security vulnerabilities in Microsoft Exchange Servers, which have been known for a long time, are being actively exploited by cybercriminals to install encryption Trojans,” it said, referring to a term for ransomware.
The National Cyber Security Centre said it had emailed over 4,500 businesses and local authorities last year about the security vulnerability and included instructions on how to remedy it. But “despite several follow-up attempts, not all affected parties have yet taken the necessary action”, it said.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Objections and appeals most common obstacles to residential construction projects
This content was published on
Objections and appeals are most frequently responsible for delays in new residential construction projects in Switzerland.
Swiss electricity prices predicted to fall in 2026
This content was published on
Electricity prices in 2026 are likely to be lower than this year, according to a survey. The main reason is the fall in prices on the electricity market.
Mpox virus can also infect the brain, say Swiss scientists
This content was published on
In view of the recent worldwide increase in Mpox cases, these new findings are of great importance, according to the University of Bern.
Switzerland and Ivory Coast sign agreement on cultural assets
This content was published on
Culture Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider signed an agreement on cultural assets with Ivorian Culture Minister Françoise Remarck in Côte d'Ivoire on Monday. It is the first of its kind to be concluded with a country from the region.
This content was published on
A snake almost one-and-a-half metres long was discovered on Saturday in a garden in Veltheim, northern Switzerland. It was a red, black and white kingsnake.
This content was published on
The Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), Swissinfo's parent company, must restructure due to financial pressures and to stay competitive in the fast-moving media environment.
This content was published on
There has been a sharp decline in the consumption of single-use disposable plastic bags and reusable plastic bags in the Swiss retail sector.
This content was published on
A biometric Swiss identity card (ID) is expected to be available in Switzerland by the end of 2026. The Federal Office of Police and its federal and cantonal partners are working on a new ID card that features a chip.
Heatwave reduces output at Swiss nuclear power plant by 50%
This content was published on
The ongoing heatwave has forced the Beznau nuclear power plant, which relies on water from the River Aare, to halve its output.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Cyberattacks tops list of Swiss firms’ worries for 2022
This content was published on
Ransomware demands, interruption of business and market fluctuations are the top risks Swiss companies expect to face in 2022.
More Swiss firms facing cyber-attacks and ransom demands
This content was published on
Ransomware attacks by hackers continue to increase sharply, with some 2,700 Swiss firms falling victim over the past year, Beobachter magazine says.
This content was published on
Swiss electricity providers are vulnerable to a Colonial Pipeline style ransomware attacks, says an energy ministry report.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.