Technology
Berlin refuses ransom demand after cyberattack compromises municipal networks
Hackers have threatened to release stolen city data unless a ransom is paid, but Mayor Kai Wegner says the city will not yield.
The short version
- Hackers compromised Berlin municipal systems in August, stealing data and disrupting city services such as housing benefit payments.
- The extortionists demanded a ransom, reported to be 30 bitcoin, but Mayor Kai Wegner publicly refused to pay.
- The Rhysida hacking group claimed responsibility and threatened to auction off nearly 5.8 terabytes of stolen data in seven days.
- German state and federal authorities are investigating the breach and trying to determine the full scope of the compromised information.
Key facts
- Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner confirmed that hackers breached municipal systems, stole data, and demanded a ransom.[Slashdot]
- Wegner stated that city officials will not comply with the ransom demand.[Slashdot]
- Der Spiegel reported that the attackers demanded 30 bitcoin, equivalent to roughly 2 million euros.[Slashdot]
- The Rhysida ransomware gang, believed to operate out of Russia and eastern Europe, reportedly claimed responsibility and threatened to auction 5.79 terabytes of stolen data in seven days.[Slashdot]
- An initial data leak occurred between August 7 and August 12, leading to the shutdown of two department networks on August 14 that disrupted housing benefits and payment processing for several days.[Slashdot]
- State police, prosecutors, and federal security agencies are investigating the breach.[Slashdot]
What remains uncertain
- The full content and exact sensitivity of the 5.79 terabytes of compromised data remain under investigation by authorities.[Slashdot]