GBAF Logo
Finance

German railway booking systems hit by DDoS attack

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on February 18, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: February 18, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
Spirax manufacturing facility showcasing growth in UK sales - Global Banking & Finance Review
Image of Spirax's manufacturing operations emphasizes the company's optimistic sales growth forecast for the second half of the year, reflecting strong performance in the finance sector.
cybersecurity technology Transportation Sector
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

Feb 18 (Reuters) - The booking and information systems for Germany's railway operator are back online for all customers after being disrupted by a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack on

German railway booking systems hit by DDoS attack

Impact of the DDoS Attack on Railway Services

Feb 18 (Reuters) - The booking and information systems for Germany's railway operator are back online for all customers after being disrupted by a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack on Tuesday, the railway said on Wednesday.

Response from Deutsche Bahn

"Our countermeasures were effective in minimizing the impact on our customers," Deutsche Bahn wrote in a blog post, without elaborating on who might have been responsible.

Previous Cybersecurity Incidents

Deutsche Bahn has previously been targeted by what German authorities suspect were acts of sabotage, including attackers cutting fibre optic cables and forcing rail traffic to a halt.

(Reporting by Matthias Williams, Editing by Linda Pasquini)

Key Takeaways

  • German railway systems were disrupted by a DDoS attack.
  • Deutsche Bahn implemented effective countermeasures.
  • The attack temporarily affected booking and information systems.
  • Previous incidents involved sabotage of railway infrastructure.
  • The systems are now back online for all customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a DDoS attack?
A Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt the normal functioning of a targeted server, service, or network by overwhelming it with a flood of internet traffic.
What is cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity refers to the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks, which aim to access, change, or destroy sensitive information.
What is Deutsche Bahn?
Deutsche Bahn is the German railway company, responsible for operating the majority of rail services in Germany, including passenger and freight transport.
What are countermeasures in cybersecurity?
Countermeasures are strategies or actions taken to prevent, mitigate, or respond to security threats and vulnerabilities within an organization's information systems.
What is a fiber optic cable?
A fiber optic cable is a type of cable that contains strands of glass fibers, which transmit data as pulses of light, allowing for high-speed data transmission over long distances.

Tags

Related Articles

Image for Australia's Wong to visit Japan, China, South Korea to discuss energy security

Australia's Wong to visit Japan, China, South Korea to discuss energy security

Image for Hungary's Magyar to meet EU's von der ​Leyen for talks on EU funds this week

Hungary's Magyar to meet EU's von der ​Leyen for talks on EU funds this week

Image for Switzerland angers Italy by claiming costs of treating Crans-Montana fire victims

Switzerland angers Italy by claiming costs of treating Crans-Montana fire victims

Image for Russian defence minister visits North Korea

Russian defence minister visits North Korea

Image for Fertiliser plant in Russia's Vologda region damaged in Ukrainian drone attack, governor says

Fertiliser plant in Russia's Vologda region damaged in Ukrainian drone attack, governor says

Image for Close Brothers will not take legal action against Britain's car finance redress scheme, Sky News reports

Close Brothers will not take legal action against Britain's car finance redress scheme, Sky News reports

More from Finance

Explore more articles in the Finance category

Image for Germany's far-right AfD rises to record 28%, INSA poll shows
Germany's far-right AfD rises to record 28%, INSA poll shows
Image for German government suspects Russia of Signal attack targeting politicians, sources say
German government suspects Russia of Signal attack targeting politicians, sources say
Image for Romania finds parts of second drone after overnight Russian attack on Ukraine
Romania finds parts of second drone after overnight Russian attack on Ukraine
Image for China condemns EU's inclusion of Chinese entities in sanctions package against Russia
China condemns EU's inclusion of Chinese entities in sanctions package against Russia
Image for Russian parliament speaker in North Korea to mark Pyongyang's troop deployment in Ukraine war
Russian parliament speaker in North Korea to mark Pyongyang's troop deployment in Ukraine war
Image for Macron reaffirms efforts to reopen Strait of Hormuz, as TotalEnergies warns of energy shortages
Macron reaffirms efforts to reopen Strait of Hormuz, as TotalEnergies warns of energy shortages
Image for France's Macron says EU mutual assistance clause is unambiguous
France's Macron says EU mutual assistance clause is unambiguous
Image for US to let Venezuela pay Maduro's lawyer in drug trafficking case
US to let Venezuela pay Maduro's lawyer in drug trafficking case
Image for Italy votes down equal parental leave while fathers redefine their role online
Italy votes down equal parental leave while fathers redefine their role online
Image for German auto industry faces even tougher competition as China economy slows
German auto industry faces even tougher competition as China economy slows
Image for Romania says drone fragments damage property during overnight Russian attack on Ukraine
Romania says drone fragments damage property during overnight Russian attack on Ukraine
Image for Engine maker Horse plans India move to supply growing small car market, CEO says
Engine maker Horse plans India move to supply growing small car market, CEO says
View All Finance Posts