Several Danish municipalities, including Gentofte, suffered website outages on Wednesday following a wave of cyberattacks linked to a pro-Russian hacker group. The Danish Minister for Civil Security reassured citizens that critical systems remain safe and stable.
Municipal Websites Hit by Overload Attacks
Multiple local government websites in the Capital Region of Denmark experienced downtime earlier today due to technical issues and overload attacks. Gentofte Municipality confirmed its site was targeted in what experts call a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. At one point, the site received about 400,000 requests in a short timeframe, forcing it offline for several hours.
A pro-Russian hacker group known as NoName057(16) later claimed responsibility for the attacks through social media posts. These attacks temporarily disrupted access to public information but did not penetrate internal networks or compromise data.
Government Response and Cyber Preparedness
Danish Minister for Civil Security and Emergency Preparedness Torsten Schack Pedersen described these events as part of the “normal pattern” that many European countries face. He emphasized that authorities do not believe the incidents pose a threat to citizens or critical national infrastructure. The attacks primarily caused delays for municipal websites, resulting in slower service for residents.
According to the minister, Danish authorities remain active in limiting risks and continuously enhancing digital defenses. Still, with local and regional elections approaching, he acknowledged the likelihood of more such incidents in the near future.
Because Denmark faces frequent cyber threats targeting essential systems, national agencies are coordinating closely to protect both government and private-sector networks.
Gentofte: Back Online but Still Targeted
Gentofte Municipality’s website was restored later in the day, though smaller waves of attacks continued. The municipality’s Director of Economy and Digitalization, Mikkel Solgaard Bojsen-Møller, said that while the systems were running again, the situation was being monitored closely.
He acknowledged that when a large and well-known hacker group focuses on specific municipal websites, it is almost impossible to avoid some disruptions. The municipality now plans to evaluate how it handled the incident to strengthen its digital resilience in the future.
The warning from Danish intelligence and emergency authorities last week already signaled a high risk of Russian-linked cyber incidents leading up to local elections. Those assessments align with earlier concerns that cyberattacks could increasingly target democratic institutions and public service systems.
For context, Denmark has seen a growing number of technologically driven security incidents, from hacking attempts to drone disruptions raising national security fears.
Other Municipalities Affected
In addition to Gentofte, the municipalities of Rødovre, Rudersdal, and Ishøj confirmed similar technical difficulties. All affected websites were fully operational again by late afternoon. So far, there has been no evidence of data breaches or unauthorized access to internal systems.
Cyber professionals in Denmark continue to warn that even basic overload attacks can disrupt everyday services when executed strategically. These short-lived incidents are often used by politically motivated groups to test vulnerabilities or demonstrate influence, especially around sensitive events like elections.
Ongoing Digital Defense Efforts
With cyber risks growing more complex, Danish authorities are under increased pressure to modernize protections across public institutions. Strengthening digital defense requires more than just technical fixes; it also demands improved coordination, awareness, and long-term strategy, as highlighted in recent national analyses.
In fact, effective cybersecurity will depend on a broader approach that includes social readiness and strategic investment, similar to what experts argue in discussions about strengthening Danish security beyond just weapons.
Despite these challenges, current assessments indicate that Denmark’s essential services and critical infrastructure remain stable. Authorities have not reported any compromise in water systems, energy grids, or data networks, emphasizing that preparedness efforts are showing results.
Sources and References
DR: Minister urges calm after overload attacks
Cyber threats in Denmark target water systems daily
Denmark’s drone disruptions raise security fears
Strengthening Danish security will require more than weapons
