Berlin city government systems hacked, hackers demand $74 million ransom

Berlin's city government has fallen victim to a significant cyberattack, with hackers breaching its systems and stealing a massive amount of data. Mayor Kai Wegner confirmed on August 28 that the perpetrators are demanding a ransom of 30 Bitcoin, which equates to roughly 2 million Euros (approximately $74 million NT dollars).

The attack, which occurred early in September, forced the shutdown of some of the German capital's online systems. Data from Berlin's transportation and environmental departments were compromised, prompting an urgent investigation to determine the exact nature and extent of the stolen information. A statement from the Mayor's office acknowledged that personal data or other non-public information could be affected.

Reports suggest that the Rhysida ransomware group, believed to be active in Russia and Eastern Europe, has claimed responsibility for the breach. The group allegedly posted on an dark web site, stating they had stolen 5.79TB of data from the Berlin city government and set a seven-day countdown for an auction of the data, starting with a base price of 30 Bitcoin.

Mayor Wegner asserted that Berlin police, prosecutors, and federal security agencies are pursuing the hackers with the highest priority. Despite the severity of the breach, the city government has declared it will not give in to the ransom demands. This cyberattack comes less than a month before the Berlin state parliament and 12 district council elections on September 20, though officials have stressed that election infrastructure was not compromised.

The incident highlights the persistent threat of ransomware attacks targeting public institutions. While the investigation continues to ascertain the full impact of the data theft, Berlin's stance against paying the ransom underscores a commitment to resisting cyber extortion.

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We will not give in to the blackmail.