Berlin is being blackmailed by hackers, mayor says

Berlin is facing blackmail from hackers who infiltrated the city's systems earlier this month, according to its mayor, Kai Wegner. The hackers reportedly demanded 30 bitcoin, equivalent to approximately €2 million, in exchange for not exposing stolen data. Some of Berlin's online systems were forced to shut down during the attack, and investigators are working to determine which data was taken.

The Rhysida group, believed to originate from Russia and eastern Europe, has claimed responsibility and indicated it plans to auction the stolen data. The group has previously targeted government institutions and businesses worldwide, causing disruptions and data breaches. Berlin's mayor emphasized that the city will not succumb to the hackers' demands and that authorities are investigating the perpetrators and the extent of the compromised data with great urgency.

Some of the initial data leak occurred between August 7 and 12, while two department networks were shut down on August 14, disrupting housing benefit and payment applications for several days. Forensic investigations have revealed further data leaks in the city's transport and environment departments. The mayor's office warned that personal or other non-public data may also be at risk.

The Rhysida group has a history of hacking activities, with hundreds of attacks since its emergence in 2023. The group targeted the British Museum in 2023, causing disruptions and stealing around 500,000 files. The cyber-attack on Berlin occurs just before the city's upcoming elections, although state senator Iris Spranger assured that the election infrastructure has not been compromised.