Ethical Hacking News
In a recent cyberattack, multiple London councils were left reeling from the impact of the attack, with service disruptions reported across both organizations. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster City Council (WCC), two of the largest local authorities in the UK, have been affected by the attack. With no ransomware groups having publicly claimed responsibility for the attack at the time of writing, questions remain about how such attacks are prevented and what measures can be taken to protect local government IT systems from similar threats in the future.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster City Council (WCC) were affected by a recent cyberattack.Service disruptions were reported across both organizations, with residents unable to contact the council through online services or phone.The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF) took enhanced measures to isolate its networks after discovering it was also affected.A ransomware attack is suspected to be behind the incident, but no group has claimed responsibility.There are concerns about the security of local government IT systems due to shared services across multiple councils.The cyberattack highlights the importance of prioritizing cybersecurity measures in the public sector.
London's civic infrastructure has been hit hard by a recent cyberattack, leaving multiple councils reeling from the impact. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and Westminster City Council (WCC), two of the largest local authorities in the UK, have been affected by the attack, with service disruptions reported across both organizations.
The RBKC announced that it was experiencing a cybersecurity issue on Monday, which prevented residents from contacting the council through online services or the contact center. The council later published a statement saying that it was responding to a cyber security issue and had activated emergency plans to ensure critical services continued to be provided to residents.
WCC also reported a disruption to its systems, with alternative phone numbers provided for residents who were unable to access normal services. The council stated that it was working closely with specialist cyber incident experts and the National Cyber Security Centre to protect systems and data, restore affected systems, and maintain critical services.
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham (LBHF), which shares some services with RBKC and WCC, also took "enhanced measures" to isolate and safeguard its networks. This led to business disruptions for the council.
The attack has raised concerns about the security of local government IT systems, which are often shared across multiple councils due to cost savings and administrative efficiencies. The fact that three separate councils were affected by the same cyberattack highlights the need for greater cooperation and information-sharing between local authorities when it comes to cybersecurity.
Security expert Kevin Beaumont said that the incident was a ransomware attack on a services provider used by the three councils. However, at the time of writing, no ransomware groups had publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.
The cyberattack has prompted questions about how such attacks are prevented and what measures can be taken to protect local government IT systems from similar threats in the future.
In an effort to mitigate the impact of the attack, RBKC stated that it was working with the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in accordance with established protocols. The council also informed residents that it did not yet have all the answers regarding the incident and would provide further updates as more information became available.
The cyberattack has highlighted the importance of cybersecurity in the public sector, where IT systems are often critical to providing essential services such as healthcare, education, and social services. As local authorities face increasing pressure to deliver high-quality services while managing limited budgets, it is essential that they prioritize cybersecurity measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The recent cyberattack on London councils serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust cybersecurity measures in protecting sensitive data and ensuring the continuity of public services. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, local authorities must remain vigilant and proactive in their efforts to protect their IT systems from cyber threats.
In conclusion, the cyberattack on multiple London councils has highlighted the need for greater cooperation and information-sharing between local authorities when it comes to cybersecurity. As the public sector faces increasing pressure to deliver high-quality services while managing limited budgets, it is essential that local authorities prioritize cybersecurity measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Multiple-London-Councils-Disrupted-by-Cyberattack-A-Threat-to-Public-Services-ehn.shtml
https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/multiple-london-councils-it-systems-disrupted-by-cyberattack/
https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/26/cyberattack_london_councils/
https://www.siliconrepublic.com/enterprise/london-councils-cyberattack-it-data-cybersecurity
Published: Wed Nov 26 11:33:26 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
