Garmin services return after alleged cyberattack


Garmin device seen on handlebar of exclusive racing bikeImage copyright
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Garmin GPS technology powers all kinds of running and cycling trackers

GPS and fitness tracker firm Garmin appears to be slowly returning to the Internet after a widespread outage affecting users around the world.

Users of the company’s services were unable to access their data due to an alleged ransomware attack.

Now customers begin to report that the service appears to be “partially” working again.

Reports claimed that the company had been asked to pay $ 10m (£ 7.79m) to bring its systems back online.

Ransomware is a type of malware that allows hackers to take control of a company’s systems and encrypt their data, before demanding payment to release it.

Garmin has not yet commented on those claims, or says what was behind the power outage.

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Some users reported on Twitter Monday morning that their health and fitness data was now visible on the Garmin mobile app.

However, many other functions seemed to be offline.

The problem started on Thursday and affected Garmin users worldwide.

Pilots using flyGarmin were unable to download updated aviation databases, which aviation regulators such as the FAA require pilots to have, before they can fly.

Customers were also unable to log in to Garmin Connect to record and analyze their health and fitness data.

In an email sent to its users on Sunday, Garmin said it would no longer respond to user queries about delayed uploads to its servers because “most issues will resolve on their own.”

Users have been warned that there may be a delay of “a week or more” for updated health and fitness data to appear in their accounts due to a delay.

The company also insisted that “there was no indication” that the users’ data had been stolen or deleted.