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Berlin government refuses 30 Bitcoin ransom following Rhysida cyberattack
The Berlin state government is facing an extortion attempt following a cyberattack on its administrative network by the Rhysida ransomware group. The group claims to have stolen 5.79 terabytes of data, comprising approximately 1.44 million files. Alleged stolen information includes personal data for over 12,000 individuals, sensitive personnel and administrative files, credentials, and documents related to critical infrastructure, such as vulnerability analyses of the city's water supply.
Authorities have refused to meet a reported ransom demand of 30 Bitcoin, which is valued at roughly €2 million. Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner stated that the state will not allow itself to be blackmailed. While the investigation is ongoing and the full extent of the data breach is not yet verified, officials have clarified that the city's election infrastructure was not targeted and remains unaffected.
Rhysida has threatened to auction the stolen data publicly within seven days if the ransom is not paid. The group has claimed responsibility for nearly 280 attacks since its emergence in June 2023.
Entities
Berlin · Berlin Government · Iris Spranger · Kai Wegner · Rhysida
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Rhysida ransomware group claims to have stolen 5.79 terabytes of data from Berlin government agencies. cybernoz.com · nationalcybersecurity.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The group threatened to auction the stolen data publicly within seven days. nationalcybersecurity.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The attackers reportedly demanded a ransom of 30 Bitcoin, valued at approximately €2 million. bitcoinethereumnews.com · nationalcybersecurity.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The stolen dataset allegedly includes roughly 1.44 million files. cybernoz.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Berlin officials stated that the city's election infrastructure was not affected by the cyberattack. nationalcybersecurity.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner confirmed the state will refuse to pay the ransom or succumb to blackmail. bitcoinethereumnews.com · nationalcybersecurity.com