Berlin Refuses Ransom Demand After Cyberattack on State Agencies

A cyberattack on two Berlin state agencies has left authorities scrambling to contain the damage. Hackers demanded 30 Bitcoin, worth roughly €2 million, in exchange for not releasing sensitive information they claim to have stolen.

The attack affected the Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing and the Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment.

Initial reports suggested only publicly accessible information had been compromised, but officials later acknowledged that non-public data was also affected.

Rhysida, a ransomware group, reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack and said it obtained sensitive files. However, Berlin authorities have not verified the full extent of the alleged theft.