After hacker attack on Berlin: Sensitive data found on the darknet

After the hacker attack on the city of Berlin, according to a sample from the news magazine “Spiegel”, numerous sensitive data can be found on the Darknet. According to a statement on Saturday, during an initial quick review, the magazine found data on hazard protection at the Berlin fire department, payrolls, account information, scans of identification documents, and confidential personnel matters such as allegations of misconduct and disciplinary matters.

Numerous federal issues are also affected - “Spiegel” reported on more than 550 files on the expansion of the Chancellery, including reports, plans and statements from the State Criminal Police Office, for example.

The hackers, who wanted to extort two million euros in ransom with their cyber attack, offered around 1.4 million pieces of data for download in three packages after the deadline expired on Friday, with the comment “Have fun, data hunters”. Berlin refused to pay a ransom.

The security expert Bianca Kastl warned the “Spiegel” about the potential for misuse, especially of data that concerns critical infrastructure facilities, contains information on disaster control or even has military relevance: “If someone wants to develop a plan on how to directly harm Berlin and thus also the federal government, they will find more than enough clues here.”

Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) told the "Bild" newspaper that after the publication of the sensitive data, the goal is now to "reach those affected as quickly as possible".

“We are in the test”

Berlin had “become the victim of a serious crime,” said Wegner. According to rbb, the hacker group Rhysida published around 1.4 million pieces of data in several packages. According to the Senate Chancellery, this could also include personal data of employees of the state of Berlin, but also of citizens and companies.

Wegner initially stated that there was no evidence of the outflow of sensitive information. Now he told “Bild” that “the state of knowledge today” is “different”. However, Wegner was not yet able to say exactly what information was leaked: “We are in the process of examining that.”

The federal government also “carried out an intensive examination of its own data systems,” as the spokesman said. However, “according to current knowledge”, these are not affected.

AFP/jm