Hackers are demanding €2 million from Berlin for the stolen data
Following a large-scale cyberattack on Berlin’s network, hackers are demanding 30 bitcoins—about 2 million euros—from city officials. The Rhysida group claims to have stolen nearly 6 terabytes of data and is threatening to release it if Berlin does not pay.
The hackers’ demand came to light after information about the attack on Berlin appeared on the Rhysida group’s page on the dark web. That is where the hackers publish data from organizations that have fallen victim to them. The group is demanding 30 bitcoins from the Berlin authorities, which amounts to approximately 2 million euros.
The hackers claim to have stolen nearly 6 terabytes of data during the attack. To increase pressure on the authorities, they have also set a countdown timer. As of Friday, it indicated that Berlin had about a week left to pay the ransom. If the authorities do not agree to the demands, the hackers threaten to publish the stolen data.
What Might Have Been Stolen
According to Rhysida, the stolen information includes data on nearly 80,000 cases of administrative offenses. The hackers also claim to have stolen more than 46,500 contracts, court documents, and information about critical infrastructure facilities. In addition, the data allegedly includes emergency response plans, passwords, and nearly 6,000 files containing login credentials.
The hackers have already released excerpts from some of the documents. According to them, this is intended to confirm that they have indeed gained access to Berlin’s data. At the same time, the full extent of the leak has not yet been independently confirmed. Therefore, there is no definitive certainty that all the data claimed by the hackers was actually stolen.
Berlin Has No Intention of Paying
After a meeting with security officials, Berlin’s acting mayor, Kai Wegner, and Senator for the Interior and Sports, Iris Spranger, stated that the city has no intention of giving in to blackmail.
“The State of Berlin will not give in to blackmail. The Berlin Criminal Police Office, the public prosecutor’s office, and federal security agencies are working closely together to investigate the case as quickly as possible regarding the suspected perpetrators of the cyberattack on the Berlin state network,” Spranger emphasized. Law enforcement officials are now trying to determine who is behind the attack and exactly what data may have fallen into the hands of the attackers.
Who Are Rhysida
Rhysida is a well-known ransomware hacker group. It attacks government agencies, companies, and large organizations, then demands money in exchange for not disclosing the stolen information. Among the group’s previous victims were the British Library, the German organization Welthungerhilfe, and the Stuttgart city administration.
The cyberattack on Berlin was yet another instance in which hackers attempted to use stolen government data to pressure the authorities. Now the city must not only investigate the attack itself but also assess what information may have fallen into the hands of the attackers. This was reported by Spiegel.
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