Berlin is being blackmailed by hackers, mayor says
Summary
Berlin’s city government was hacked, and hackers stole a large amount of data. The hackers demanded about 30 bitcoin (worth around 2 million euros) as ransom, but Berlin’s mayor said the city will not pay. Investigators are working to find out what data was taken and to catch those responsible.Key Facts
- Hackers attacked Berlin’s city systems in early August and stole 5.79 terabytes of data.
- The hacker group called Rhysida, believed to be from Russia and eastern Europe, claims responsibility.
- The group demands a ransom of 30 bitcoin, about 2 million euros or 1.7 million pounds.
- Berlin’s systems for housing benefits and payments were shut down for several days after the attack.
- Personal and non-public data, such as contracts and passwords, may have been stolen.
- Rhysida has carried out hundreds of attacks since 2023, including one on the British Museum in the UK.
- The group plans to auction off the stolen Berlin data on the dark web if the ransom is not paid.
- Officials say the upcoming Berlin elections have not been affected by the attack.
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.