A significant cyber attack has disrupted services across several London boroughs, prompting an emergency response and raising concerns over data security.
Councils Targeted in Coordinated Incident
Multiple London councils, including the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Hammersmith and Fulham, and Westminster City Council, have been targeted in a serious cyber attack. The incident, which began on Monday morning, has affected the shared IT systems used by these authorities.
The councils are now working alongside specialist cyber incident experts and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in a concerted effort to protect sensitive information and restore critical online services that residents rely on.
Impact on Services and Investigation
The breach has caused widespread disruption, affecting various council systems. Residents have been warned that they may face significant delays in responses to enquiries and in accessing certain services. Council phone lines have also been impacted by the incident.
A spokesperson for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea stated that it is currently 'too early' to determine if any personal data has been compromised or to identify who is behind the sophisticated attack. The Information Commissioner's Office, the UK's data protection regulator, has been formally informed of the breach.
National Response and Ongoing Efforts
The National Cyber Security Centre has confirmed it is aware of the incident and is actively working to understand its full scope and potential impact. The primary focus remains on securing systems and assessing the damage.
While emergency plans have been activated to manage the fallout, the full extent of the attack and the potential risk to residents' data is still being investigated. This incident follows a recent admission from the Co-op that 6.5 million members had their data stolen in a separate cyber attack, highlighting a growing trend of digital threats to UK institutions.
