The flag is raised at the Print Room in Beverwijk. Not because the institute is celebrating an anniversary or because it is spiritual father Jan van der Linden’s birthday, but because the collection that was hacked in February is back. Two hundred thousand photos and picture postcards of Beverwijk and Wijk aan Zee are back where they belong.
Jan van der Linden, manager and owner of the Print Room, heaved a sigh of relief. “I’m overjoyed that it worked, all files are back safely.”
The Print Room was the victim of a hack attack on 21 February† His collection was immediately taken hostage there. He was able to get the files back against payment of 1,500 euros. The police advised him not to take up that ‘offer’, because that way the work of criminals is rewarded.
But it didn’t sit well with Van der Linden that his father’s life’s work would be lost. In his spare time he spent thirty years digitizing the material that father Han had collected over time. “I couldn’t bring myself to give up that life’s work just like that. And that also because of my own mismanagement, because I had failed to make backups.”
“It was a bit of a sweat, but after four days we had all the files back. I jumped a hole in the air”
So he started a fundraiser. It got a kickstart thanks to a substantial contribution from an entrepreneur friend, who was also the victim of a hack attack a few years ago. Van der Linden: “That went well, we had that 1500 euros in no time together.”
Getting the files back took a lot of time because the hackers wanted the amount in Bitcoins. “That was a hassle, but in the end it worked out through a friend’s account. After the money was transferred, we got a code. It was a bit of a sweat, because you’re not sure if they’ll give it back. But after four days everything was back to normal. I jumped for joy!”
No second time
Van der Linden says he understands the advice of the police not to succumb to blackmail. On the other hand: “I was angry that this had happened and that I had failed to make backups. So I felt obliged to do everything I could to get the files back. It’s great that it worked And yes, I’ve made backups right now so this won’t happen to me again.”