Free parking in Antwerp due to cyber attack
Due to the cyber attack in December, the computer systems of the city of Antwerp were down. The result was that for weeks parking attendants could not check whether someone had bought a parking ticket. Although that is by no means the only cost the city incurs from the cyber troubles.
Since the cyber attack by the hacker collective Play black parkers in Antwerp against a fine or parking fee. The city of Antwerp estimates that it will miss 1.2 million euros in revenue from parking tickets. The problems must be resolved early, because it should be possible to check parking tickets again at the end of this week.
Although there are other things that cannot be confirmed. For example, checking cars in the low-emission zone (LEZ) via the ANPR cameras has not been possible since December 6, which means that no fines could be issued. In addition, it was not possible to get a permit for one or more days to buy to access with a car.
70 million euros
Combating the cyber attack threatens to become an expensive issue. The bill runs through the overtime worked by the staff of the urban computer center Digipolis. But the city’s other officials have also been working overtime in recent weeks. And then there are the costs for the deployment of external specialists, such as for the response team. In addition, part of the IT system, and associated policy, must be adapted and adjusted.
According to Koen Kennis (N-VA), alderman of Finance and Mobility, the damage would amount to approximately 70 million euros, he told the daily newspaper the newspapaer. “More than the corona crisis and the reception of refugees,” he suggested.