08 January 2021
Hackney Town Hall
A cyber criminal group has posted what it claims are documents stolen from Hackney Council in a ransomware attack, the London authority said.
The publication on the dark web of the personal details of council staff and residents follows "a serious cyber-attack" on the council in October 2020. It is understood that the data posted was "limited" and "not visible through search engines".
Hackney Council's cabinet member for planning, Guy Nicholson, said the hack had affected services residents relied on, including by disrupting the ability of the council to process land search requests for those buying property.
Many residents have complained on social media about how the disruption has cost them financially and derailed house purchases.
Officials continue to work with the UK National Cyber Security Centre and National Crime Agency to investigate the hack, the council added.
