WILLEMSTAD – Cyberattacks shut down several government agencies in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands last week. The Curaçao Tax Authority was hit by ransomware, the Minister of Finance reports.
Employees immediately took a system offline when they discovered the attack. The ministry is still investigating the origin and damage. Confidential information was reportedly not compromised.
Despite the attack, residents were still able to file and pay taxes online. Telephone support and at-the-counter service were unavailable. All services have been operating normally since Monday.
The Court of Justice discovered a virus in its IT system and, as a precaution, took all computers offline. The court operates on all six Caribbean islands.
Some trials were postponed, but most went ahead. The systems are still being restored.
Hackers also broke into the email accounts of Aruban parliamentarians. The consequences are still unclear. Sint Maarten warned businesses and institutions to be extra vigilant.
Cyberattacks are also affecting government agencies in the Netherlands. Two weeks ago, the Public Prosecution Service disconnected all its systems after a hack.
This makes it difficult for lawyers to access information. Last year, contact information for police officers was stolen by a Russian cyber-crime group.
Curacao.nu / ABC Flash Point News 2025.
