Cyber ​​attack on Nuremberg website: online services paralyzed!

Cyber ​​attack on Nuremberg website: online services paralyzed!

On July 9, 2025, the city of Nuremberg's website was the target of a massive cyber attack early in the morning. As BR reports, it is a DDOS attack (Distributed Denial of Service). This method overloads a server with excessive requests, causing it to refuse service. The city's online services, including the authority guide and important contact forms, are currently not working. Fortunately, the city's IT infrastructure remained unharmed.

The disruptions began around 8:15 a.m., according to confirmations from the city. Although some general information pages are still available, core services are affected. The experts from the city of Nuremberg are working hard to fend off the current hacker attack. Involved in a similar incident in April this year, the Nuremberg police cybercrime department had difficulty identifying the perpetrators. These repeated attacks raise questions as they are often politically motivated or aimed at (scientific) espionage and financial fraud.

The threat situation in cyberspace

The latest incidents shed light on the current threat from cybercrime in Germany. In its report on the cybercrime situation in 2024, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) has identified a worrying development: Cybercrimes are reaching a new high, especially through DDoS campaigns and ransomware attacks, with the number of foreign attacks also increasing.

Digitalization not only creates advantages, but also new opportunities for cybercriminals. The importance of digital infrastructures for public life is increasing, and with it the risk is also increasing. After all, the annual damage that can be caused by cyber attacks in Germany is estimated at an impressive 178.6 billion euros. Police crime statistics show that cybercrime is not only a growth area, but also a serious problem.

Policy implications and future actions

The increase in such attacks, particularly against public institutions such as the city of Nuremberg, has political dimensions. City IT experts emphasize the need to strengthen the legal framework for cyber defense and intensify international cooperation in order to better counter fast-moving cyber criminals.

The BKA prioritizes the fight against cybercrime, although the clearance rate for these crimes is only 32%, below the overall statistics of 58%. This fact highlights the challenges facing security authorities, particularly with regard to the increasing professionalism and cooperation of perpetrators in cyberspace. It remains to be seen how the city of Nuremberg and other affected institutions will respond to these threats.