Gateshead Council in North East England confirms a ransomware attack by the Medusa group, resulting in a potential leak of sensitive personal data. The council is working with authorities to contain the breach and notify affected individuals. The incident highlights the growing threat of ransomware to public sector organizations.
Another UK local authority has fallen victim to a ransomware attack. Gateshead Council in North East England was targeted by the Medusa group, a notorious cybercrime organization. The council confirmed a police investigation into the 'cybersecurity incident' on January 15th, shortly after Medusa began publicizing purportedly stolen documents on its data leak site.
Gateshead revealed that the attackers gained access to its systems on January 8th, prompting immediate action to contain the breach.Medusa posted a 31-page slideshow on its site, displaying a range of documents allegedly taken from Gateshead Council. These documents appear to contain sensitive personal information, including full names, email addresses, home and mobile phone numbers, home addresses, employment histories, and more. Examples of the leaked documents include job applications, internal spreadsheets detailing departmental budgets, records of outstanding payments to adult social carers, and reports on individuals' eligibility for public housing. Mike Barker, strategic director for corporate services and governance at Gateshead Council, issued a statement assuring the public that the council had taken swift action to minimize data loss and that business operations were continuing as usual. He emphasized that investigations were ongoing to determine the full scope of the incident and any potential wider implications. Barker stated that the council was in the process of contacting individuals whose data may have been compromised to provide them with support and guidance on protecting themselves from further harm. Gateshead Council advised residents to remain vigilant against potential phishing attempts and other fraudulent activities, urging them to review their passwords and ensure they are strong and unique. Barker further noted that the council would provide updates on the situation as it evolved and would directly contact individuals if their data was found to be at risk. He acknowledged the possibility of further issues arising during the ongoing investigation and pledged to take appropriate action if necessary. So far, investigations have not indicated any additional damage caused by the attack. However, the council emphasized a need for transparency and preparedness in the face of evolving cybersecurity threats. The incident underscores the increasing vulnerability of public sector organizations to ransomware attacks and the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures and public awareness campaigns
Ransomware Cyberattack Medusa Group Gateshead Council Data Breach UK Government Cybersecurity Threats Public Sector Security
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