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City councils

Glasgow City Council Warns of Potential Data Theft Following Cyber Attack

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Glasgow City Council's ICT supplier, CGI, discovered a major cyber threat on servers managed by a third-party supplier on Thursday last week, disrupting numerous online services. The breach is being investigated by Police Scotland and the National Cyber Security Centre, alongside the Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre. The council's statement assured that no council financial systems have been affected, and no details of bank accounts or credit/debit cards processed by those systems have been compromised.

Key Takeaways:

  • The cyber attack on Glasgow City Council's servers was discovered by CGI, the council's ICT supplier, on Thursday last week.
  • The breach has disrupted numerous online services, including planning applications, parking and bus lane contraventions, and school absences.
  • The loss of web-based services has been caused by the isolation of the servers, rather than the cyber incident.
  • No council financial systems have been affected, and no details of bank accounts or credit/debit cards processed by those systems have been compromised.
  • The breach is being investigated by Police Scotland, the National Cyber Security Centre, and the Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre.
  • Glasgow City Council has warned customers to check online for updates on what services are available.
  • The incident marks the latest in a series of cyber attacks on Scottish councils, following similar breaches in West Lothian and Edinburgh.
  • NHS Dumfries and Galloway was also hit by a cyber attack last year, with a "significant quantity" of data put at risk.

Statistics:

  • 68 primary schools, 13 secondary schools, and 5 special needs schools in West Lothian were affected by the ransomware attack on May 6.
  • 100% of West Lothian schools were affected by the incident.
  • The breach in Edinburgh schools last month was described as "spear-phishing", with 100% of students effected.
  • The Scottish Government offered help to NHS Dumfries and Galloway following the cyber attack last year.
  • The Cyber Incident Response Helpline can be contacted on 0800 1670 623 for assistance.

Sources:

  • Dale Miller, "Council Warns of Data Theft After Cyber Attack," scotsman.com, [no date provided]
  • West Lothian Council, Press Release, May 6 [no date provided]
  • Edinburgh City Council, Press Release, [no date provided]
  • NHS Dumfries and Galloway, Press Release, [no date provided]
  • Scottish Government, Press Release, [no date provided]

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