German Radio Station Forced to Broadcast ‘Emergency Tape’ Following Cyberattack

On September 15, 2024, Radio Geretsried, a German radio station, was hit by a significant cyberattack that severely disrupted its operations. The attack, attributed to hackers believed to be operating from Russia, targeted the station’s core systems by encrypting all its music files. This forced the station to broadcast an ’emergency tape’ as they were unable to access their regular programming content.

The attackers demanded a ransom for the decryption keys, putting the station in a challenging position. As a result, Radio Geretsried’s management and the board of Bürgernetz Isar-Loisach e.V. worked tirelessly to recover and salvage any retrievable data before reinstalling affected systems. The process was complex, with the complete restoration not expected to be finished until midweek after the attack.

This incident highlights the growing risk media organizations face from cyber threats, as these organizations are increasingly targeted due to their high visibility and valuable digital assets. The situation underscores the necessity of robust cybersecurity protocols and contingency planning to protect against and mitigate the impact of such attacks in the future.

Listeners were encouraged to check Radio Geretsried’s website and Facebook page for updates during the recovery process, as the station aimed to restore normal broadcasting as swiftly as possible​(CyberMaterial –)​(The Cyber Beat)​(BackBox News).