Cyberattacks on London citizen offices disrupt local government services
Three borough administrations in London have shut down their IT systems following cyberattacks, restricting public services. Details are not yet available.
(Image: Maksim Shmeljov/Shutterstock.com)
Earlier this week, various borough administrations within London experienced cybersecurity incidents, leading to the shutdown of IT systems. While local authority services are now being offered again, citizens are asked for their patience due to potential waiting times. It remains unclear what type of cyberattack it was, what the attackers' objectives are, and whether any data has been exfiltrated.
The London boroughs of Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster, and Hammersmith and Fulham are affected. The authorities partially rely on the same IT systems, which they share under a joint agreement. In Germany, a similar principle exists with municipal data processing centers that offer IT services for authorities. This is particularly essential for smaller municipalities, for which their own IT department is hardly manageable.
Investigations launched
It is currently unclear whether the cyberattack in the British capital primarily targeted the IT service provider or the three borough administrations directly. The authorities have followed the prescribed standard procedures after discovering cyberattacks, immediately shut down the IT systems, informed the UK's national cybersecurity center, and involved investigative authorities.
Videos by heise
Although most of the public services in the affected boroughs are now available again, even three days after the initial discovery of the cybersecurity incidents, there are still restrictions and delays. Citizens should be aware of this, writes the Westminster Borough Council. In urgent cases, such as childcare or for social housing, the authority offers various emergency hotlines.
Uncertainty about perpetrators and motive
"At this stage it is too early to say who did this and why," a statement from Westminster reads. "we are investigating to see if any data has been compromised – which is standard practice. Our IT teams worked through the night yesterday and a number of successful mitigations were put in place, and we remain vigilant should there be any further incidents or issues. "
Great Britain has experienced several major cyberattacks this year. For example, production and sales at Jaguar Land Rover were disrupted after an IT attack. One well-known retail chain was so severely affected that the CTO of Marks & Spencer resigned after the cyberattack.
(fds)
