The Smart City Dilemma: Can Urban Infrastructure Survive a Cyber Attack?

A DDoS attack on July 3 took down Berlin’s smart traffic grid for three hours, causing mass delays and emergency response disruptions. The attack exploited unpatched IoT devices controlling traffic lights, public transport, and energy meters.

Smart cities are becoming cyber warzones. While IoT brings efficiency, it also widens the attack surface. Experts note that most municipal systems lack real-time monitoring, firmware updates, and basic segmentation.

The Berlin incident has triggered international debate. Cities must now treat digital infrastructure with the same critical priority as water and power. Recommendations include embedded firmware scanning, traffic anomaly detection, and enforced vendor compliance.