Leicester Suffers Major Cyber Attack
Authorities in Leicester, a city in Leicestershire, Britain, have reported a serious cyber incident that necessitated the temporary shutdown of the city’s operational systems and critical telephone lines.
The disruption to services was first noticed on March 7, and the decision to temporarily disconnect was taken to avert potential adverse consequences.
By March 8, local authorities officially labeled the emerging problem as a “cyber incident,” commonly understood to imply attacks involving malicious software, though no official confirmation has been made yet.
Cybersecurity experts have speculated that the disruption might stem from a ransomware attack, but to date, no known ransomware groups have claimed responsibility for the incident.
Leicester’s authorities assert they are collaborating with cybersecurity specialists and law enforcement to investigate the incident’s circumstances and restore system operations, with a particular focus on critical services.
Some online forms for reporting child protection and accessing housing services became temporarily unavailable due to the attack, prompting the establishment of emergency telephone numbers. City officials have apologized for the inconvenience and vow to minimize the impact on essential services.
Eerke Boiten, a cybersecurity professor at De Montfort University in Leicester, highlighted that such cyberattacks are not uncommon for municipalities, and their repercussions can significantly hinder the everyday operations of city services. However, he expressed confidence in the Leicester City Council’s strong information management reputation, which could minimize potential damage from the compromise.
Leicester is not alone in facing such threats: over the past year, several other British municipalities have fallen victim to similar attacks.
Cyber incidents involving malicious software and ransomware always deal a serious blow to the operations of city services and critical municipal systems, directly affecting citizens’ lives by creating obstacles and inconveniences to accessing everyday city services they rely on.
Furthermore, in addition to virtual attacks, Britain has recently seen an increase in physical assaults on network infrastructure, including the cutting of communication cables and vandalism of equipment. Affected internet providers attribute these incidents to mere vandalism, though such attacks may be conducted with deliberate and malicious intent.
