The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Jump in cyber attacks during Covid-19 confinement

computer code
The increase may be due to increased time spent online during lockdown, one expert said. Keystone / Ronald Wittek

The number of cyber attacks reported in Switzerland during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic was up to three times higher than normal.

Figures from the Swiss National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), reported in the NZZ am Sonntag, show that cases in April were over 350 per week, well above the norm (100-150).

Max Klaus, deputy head of the NCSC, told the newspaper that cyber attacks often come in such waves, especially during a “special event” like the coronavirus pandemic.

Incidents have included phishing, fraudulent websites, or direct attacks on firms – including some high-profile recent cases such as the attempt to extort $6 million (CHF5.77 million) from Stadler rail by hackers who stole business documents.

And this might just be the tip of the iceberg, Klaus says: as Switzerland does not legally obligate companies or individuals to report incidents, the figures could be much higher.

Jewgeni Kaspersky, head of the Kaspersky cybersecurity lab, told the NZZ that he was not surprised by the figures. Many people have been constantly online and working from home, he said, where they might not enjoy the same level of internet security as in the office.

His lab, meanwhile, which works worldwide, recorded 68.7 million cyberattacks globally in April, compared with ‘just’ 57.2 million in February.

The surprise, Kaspersky said, is that numbers have again receded in May. He reckons that hackers, having secured their bounties of data, might be currently trying to figure out how to make a profit by extorting or selling them on.

He also said that hackers have begun to adapt their modus operandi and are now working less secretly, preferring to publish some stolen data in an effort to put pressure on those they are extorting. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he says, they have even targeted hospitals and patient data.

The NCSC has not been made aware of any such attacks on hospitals in Switzerland.

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

Millionaires prioritise well-being over material possessions

More

High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions

This content was published on The priorities of wealthy private individuals have shifted against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical tensions and trade disputes. While spending on luxury goods is declining, demand for travel and experiences is unabated.

Read more: High-net-worth individuals prioritise well-being over material possessions
Spanish flu: virus genome deciphered a century later

More

Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus

This content was published on Researchers from the Universities of Basel and Zurich (UZH) have sequenced the genome of the Spanish flu virus, thanks to a sample taken from an 18-year-old Swiss boy who died in the city on the Limmat in 1918, when the pandemic spread around the world.

Read more: Swiss researchers sequence genome of 1918 Spanish flu virus
Three inmates attempt to escape from Sion prison

More

Prison escape foiled by Swiss police

This content was published on Three inmates attempted to escape from Sion prison on Sunday morning. Their capture required a major police operation.

Read more: Prison escape foiled by Swiss police
The start of the holiday season means long traffic jams on the Gotthard

More

Gotthard traffic queue hits 11km at start of holiday season

This content was published on The start of the summer holidays saw a long traffic jam in front of the Gotthard tunnel on Saturday. Traffic jams between Erstfeld and Göschenen in canton Uri were up to 11 kilometres long early in the morning.

Read more: Gotthard traffic queue hits 11km at start of holiday season

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

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.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR