Hackers publish 1.4 million files from Berlin’s government on the dark web after demanding €2 million

About 1.4 million files taken from the government of the city of Berlin have been released on the dark web by a group of hackers after the deadline to pay a ransom of around €2 million expired.

According to regional public broadcaster RBB, the information has been made available for download in several groups. The published materials also include personal data, including employment certificates, offers and employee evaluations.

In its announcement, the hacking group wrote: “Have fun, data hunters.”

Berlin’s institutions were hit by a cyberattack on August 14, causing municipal services, particularly those related to housing and the environment, to be temporarily disconnected from the network. For several days, residents were unable to complete applications or payments for housing benefits.

At the end of August, Berlin Mayor Kai Wegner acknowledged that the city had faced an extortion attempt following the cyberattack and stressed that the authorities “would not submit” to the hackers’ demands.

The Rhysida group has been linked to the attack. According to German media, it also claimed responsibility for the attack on the British Library in London in 2023. In that case, the hackers demanded 20 bitcoin and, after the payment was refused, published around 500,000 files containing the personal data of visitors, subscribers and staff.

The public release of Berlin’s data comes just a few weeks before the municipal elections on September 20. The authorities have announced that the cyberattack did not affect the electoral process.