St Helens Council reports ransomware attack

St Helens Council, England is investigating a ransomware cyber attack targeting its IT systems and networks. The Council has confirmed the incident, and that their internal systems have been impacted. The council has enlisted the expertise of cyber security professionals to delve into the matter.

The council's official statement disclosed, "We are currently dealing with a suspected Ransomware incident on the councils IT systems and networks. The attack was first identified on Monday, August 21, and we immediately alerted our external cyber security contractor to investigate this issue further. We have now put in place a number of security measures to keep our IT networks running safely."

While the council continues to offer its services through its website, some internal systems have experienced disruptions as part of the measures taken to prevent further impacts. A full investigation is underway to comprehend the extent of the breach.

No details are provided about the nature of the attack, whether any data was exfiltrated/stolen and whether any individuals have been impacted.

St Helens Council has issued advice to residents on how to stay secure online and to be cautious of communications supposedly originating from the council. They have provided guidelines to help residents recognize potential online scams, including phishing emails that attempt to deceive recipients into revealing sensitive information by posing as legitimate entities.

In their efforts to manage the situation, St Helens Council has reassured the public that they are collaborating closely with cyber security specialists to resolve the incident.