reported from the source

Quick summary: A TÜV report reveals that a significant number of elevators in Germany are vulnerable to cyberattacks due to insufficient security measures.

Many elevators in Germany are digitally controlled, making them potential targets for cybercriminals. According to the TÜV Association, a large portion of these systems has security deficiencies. Elevators in residential and commercial buildings are increasingly digitally managed, yet too few are adequately protected, as stated in the latest TÜV facility security report. Nearly two-thirds of the elevators examined last year had minor deficiencies, which is over four percentage points more than the previous year and almost 22 percentage points more than in 2023. A key reason for this increase is the lack of cybersecurity measures, emphasized by TÜV. Operators have been required for several years to implement and document appropriate protective measures. The absence of proof leads to a minor deficiency. Manufacturers and especially operators should take cybersecurity seriously and fulfill their obligations. Despite some progress, there are still significant vulnerabilities in cybersecurity in Germany, according to the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI). If elevators and their emergency call systems are connected to the internet, inadequate protection could allow hackers to sabotage the control of the travel programs, potentially leading to constant up-and-down movement without stops or externally controlled speeds. This could have serious consequences in critical infrastructure buildings such as hospitals or government agencies. “It is not a trivial matter to neglect cybersecurity,” said Joachim Bühler, managing director of the TÜV Association. “Serious accidents occur repeatedly.” Last year, nearly 723,300 elevator systems were inspected. More than one in ten elevators had what are termed significant deficiencies. TÜV identified dangerous deficiencies in 0.8 percent, or 5,800 systems. Three thousand of these elevators were immediately shut down due to posing a danger to life and limb, partly due to worn suspension cables. “Serious accidents occur repeatedly,” TÜV stated. “Their number can be kept to a minimum with the proven interplay of regular maintenance by the operator, independent inspection, and official oversight.”

Source: www.zdfheute.de