Berlin refuses to pay $2 million ransom after massive hacker attack

Berlin is facing a significant cyberattack after hackers infiltrated city systems and stole nearly 6 terabytes of data. The hacker group Rhysida, believed to operate from Russia and Eastern Europe, has claimed responsibility and is demanding a ransom of 30 bitcoins, approximately $2 million.

Mayor Kai Wegner has firmly stated that the city will not succumb to blackmail. "Berlin will not be blackmailed," Wegner declared. He confirmed that police, prosecutors, and federal security services are urgently working on the case. Investigations are also underway to determine the full extent of the data compromised, which may include personal information.

The cyberattack forced the shutdown of some of Berlin's internet systems. The breach, which occurred between August 7-12, initially disrupted services like housing benefit applications and payments. Subsequent analyses revealed further data leaks affecting the city's transport and environmental departments. Rhysida has threatened to begin auctioning the stolen data on the dark web within seven days, with a starting bid of 30 bitcoins.

This incident is not the first for Rhysida; the group is also suspected of being behind a cyberattack on the British Museum in 2023. The stolen files reportedly include contracts, NDAs, personal records, passwords, and thousands of private contact details, according to a screenshot published by "Der Spiegel."

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Berlin will not be blackmailed.