German newspaper stops circulation after a ransomware attack

On Friday 14th of October 2022, the german newspaper ‘Heilbronn Stimme’ experienced a ransomware attack that crippled its printing systems as well as phone and email services. On Saturday, the newspaper released an “emergency” six-page edition while all planned obituaries were posted on the website and today, they published a 28-page issue in an e-paper format.

The Editor-in-chief Uwe Ralf Heer also confirmed that the attack impacted the entire Stimme Mediengruppe media group, which includes the companies Pressedruck’, ‘Echo’, and ‘RegioMail.’ The newspaper’s editors have been told to work from home on their personal computers while the IT systems are being restored.

The media group has confirmed that they are working with the police, data protection agencies, and external experts to be able to resolve the situation. At this current time, no specific ransom demands have been made.