Due to technical problems, the websites and many computer systems of the chambers of industry and commerce in several federal states failed or were deliberately shut down on Thursday.

This was announced by the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Several chambers have admitted technical problems in social networks.

Among other things, there was talk of a “serious IT security incident”.

The background may have been a cyber attack on the technical systems.

Many computers in the chambers in Germany have been shut down for security reasons.

Intensive work is currently being done on a solution and defense, it said.

The spokesman for the Bremen Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Osnabrück confirmed the disturbances.

The websites of other IHKs also went offline.

A regional focus of possible attacks has not yet been identified.

The IHK spokesman from Bremen said there was an indication from Dortmund on Thursday morning that an attack was taking place.

It is apparently about so-called DDoS attacks.

In these sabotage attacks, hackers bombard their targets with data, so that sooner or later these systems stop working.

To forestall this, many chambers have gone offline as a precaution.

Among other things, online forms for companies and members were no longer available.

Contact via telephone and e-mail is initially no longer possible.

No external communication possible

The spokesman for the IHK in Osnabrück also spoke of a technical fault, the solution to which is being worked on at full speed.

"We can already work locally, but external communication is not possible or only possible to a limited extent," he said.

Ralf Bender, CEO of European insurance and risk expert Südvers, wrote in an email: "Today's DDoS attack on chambers of commerce and industry across Germany underscores the level of digital threats companies are exposed to on a daily basis.

Companies have to continuously prepare for defense against cyber attacks with comprehensive upgrading of their own IT, regular penetration tests and recurring employee training.

The tailor-made, individual training of employees alone would by no means close digital gateways for hackers.

Given the high cost of dealing with a cyber attack, cyber insurance is becoming the property insurance of the 21st century.”