Berlin Blackmailed: Hackers Demand Millions in Bitcoin

Berlin is currently grappling with a severe cyberattack that occurred on August 14, resulting in a significant data theft and subsequent blackmail attempt. The city's administrations, particularly those handling housing and environmental matters, were disconnected from their networks for a full week, halting essential services like housing benefit applications. The suspected culprits are the notorious hacker group Rhysida, which previously targeted the British Library.

Mayor Kai Wegner confirmed that Berlin received a demand for 30 bitcoins, a sum equivalent to about €2 million, with a deadline for payment. Despite initial claims that sensitive data was not compromised, authorities later admitted personal information may have been affected. Rhysida is threatening to publish the stolen data if the ransom is not paid within a week, a tactic they employed against the British Library when their demand for 20 bitcoins was refused.

Germany's security agencies are working intensely to identify and apprehend the perpetrators responsible for the attack on Berlin. Concurrently, investigations are underway to ascertain the precise nature and extent of the data that was exfiltrated. Deputy Mayor Iris Spranger assured the public that the cyberattack would not impact the upcoming September 20 elections.