Hackers Demand €2 Million from Berlin After Major Cyberattack
Technology
Berlin authorities have confirmed that the Rhysida hacking group is demanding around €2 million following a major cyberattack on the city's administration. The attackers claim to have obtained between 5.7 and 5.79 terabytes of data and put it up for sale on the dark web, while Berlin's leadership has said it will not yield to extortion.
According to Berlin Senate spokesperson Christine Richter, Rhysida has claimed responsibility for the attack and says it obtained a large volume of stolen information. The minimum bid in the auction is 30 bitcoin, which the Senate estimates at roughly €2 million. Authorities say the data could be resold or published in full or in part after the auction ends.
The cyberattack became known on August 14. Available information indicates that a significant volume of data was extracted from the network between August 7 and 12, with confidential and personal information potentially among the compromised material. Following the discovery of the incident, affected Senate departments were temporarily disconnected from the city's wider network.
Reuters reported that Rhysida claimed to have stolen 5.79 terabytes of data, including tens of thousands of contracts, email addresses, telephone numbers, passwords and other confidential information. The full scale of the breach, however, remains under investigation.
Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner and Interior Senator Iris Spranger previously said the city would not comply with the extortionists' demands. “The State of Berlin will not submit to extortion,” they said.
According to the Senate, Rhysida is regarded as a highly professional group linked to a number of cyberattacks against targets in Europe and the United States. The investigation is continuing as authorities work to establish the volume and nature of the compromised information.
The cyberattack became known on August 14. Available information indicates that a significant volume of data was extracted from the network between August 7 and 12, with confidential and personal information potentially among the compromised material. Following the discovery of the incident, affected Senate departments were temporarily disconnected from the city's wider network.
Reuters reported that Rhysida claimed to have stolen 5.79 terabytes of data, including tens of thousands of contracts, email addresses, telephone numbers, passwords and other confidential information. The full scale of the breach, however, remains under investigation.
Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner and Interior Senator Iris Spranger previously said the city would not comply with the extortionists' demands. “The State of Berlin will not submit to extortion,” they said.
According to the Senate, Rhysida is regarded as a highly professional group linked to a number of cyberattacks against targets in Europe and the United States. The investigation is continuing as authorities work to establish the volume and nature of the compromised information.
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