Cyberattacks Disrupt Government Services Across the Dutch Caribbean A wave of cyberattacks last week targeted multiple government institutions in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, causing operational disruptions and prompting security alerts. In Curaçao, a ransomware attack struck the Tax and Customs Administration, forcing the agency to take one of its systems offline as a precaution. While the online tax filing and payment platform remained functional, telephone and in-person services were suspended for several days before full restoration on Monday. Authorities confirmed that no confidential data was compromised, though an investigation into the attack’s origin and impact is ongoing. The Court of Justice, which serves all six Caribbean islands of the Kingdom, also fell victim to a cyber incident, with officials detecting a virus in its IT system. The entire computer network was shut down, leading to the postponement of several court cases, though most hearings proceeded as scheduled. Recovery efforts are still in progress. In Aruba, hackers breached official email accounts belonging to members of parliament, though the full extent of the breach and its consequences remain unclear. In response to the attacks, Sint-Maarten issued a public alert, urging businesses and institutions to bolster cybersecurity measures. The incidents follow a separate breach in the Netherlands two weeks prior, when the Public Prosecution Service (Openbaar Ministerie) disconnected its systems after detecting unauthorized access. The disruption has severely hindered defense attorneys’ ability to access case information, impacting legal proceedings. The attacks echo a September 2023 breach in which Russian cybercriminals stole contact details of Dutch police officers, underscoring persistent threats to government infrastructure. Ransomware, a form of malware that encrypts data and demands payment for decryption, typically spreads through phishing emails, malicious ads, or unpatched software vulnerabilities. The recent incidents highlight the growing risk of cyber threats to public sector operations.