Berlin launches crisis response after hackers publish stolen data


A projection of cyber code on a hooded man is pictured in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration

BERLIN, Sept 5 (Reuters) - ⁠Berlin's state government said on Saturday it ⁠was reviewing with the highest intensity a ‌trove of stolen data published by a ransomware group, as investigators attempt to assess the scale and impact of the ​cyberattack that targeted two departments.

• ⁠The cyberattack on ⁠Berlin's network came less than a month before the ⁠city-state ‌holds elections on September 20.

• The data was released on Friday after an ⁠auction put on by the Rhysida group ​for 5.79 ‌terabytes of data at a starting price ⁠of 30 ​bitcoin ($77,622) ended after several days. Berlin had said that it would not submit to extortion.

• A central ⁠crisis unit will oversee the ​review, verification and assessment of the leaked data and support efforts to inform affected citizens and businesses, ⁠said the city.

• Berlin described the hacking incident as "an extremely serious crime" and an attack on the state itself, urging the public not to ​spread unverified claims on social ⁠media.

• Individuals affected by the data leak will ​be informed by the relevant ‌authorities in accordance with German ​and European data protection rules, authorities said.

(Reporting by Miranda Murray; Editing by Toby Chopra)

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