London Council Cyber Attack: Residents Warned After Major Data Theft Incident

The citizens of Kensington and Chelsea have been informed by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) about a cyberattack that impacted RBKC, London. The personal data was stolen from approximately 147,500 residents of RBKC, and the borough has recommended to its residents to be vigilant and cautious as their private data may reside with criminals.

How Did It Happen?​

The hack occurred when a cybercriminal entered into the RBKC computer system and copied the personal information of approximately 147,500 residents. However, there has not been a precise determination of which personal details have been compromised.

This could include names, address and payment details. Currently, the Hackney Borough of London along with the Cyber Security teams of the RBKC and the London Metropolitan Police are conducting investigations into the attack.

Who Else Was Victimized?​

Besides the RBKC (Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea), Westminster City Council and Hammersmith & Fulham Council were also affected due to shared IT systems.

Many RBKC and Westminster City Council services that have been impacted include Customer Service telephone lines, web-based forms, etc. Residents requesting assistance from their respective Local Councils may experience delays associated with this incident.

What Should People Do Now?​

If you live in these areas, you should be very careful. Hackers may try to trick you with fake emails or calls. I would:

• Check bank accounts often
• Change important passwords
• Ignore strange links in emails or messages
• Call the council directly if something looks suspicious

Conclusion​

We can expect more Cyberattack Cycles to take place. The impact is on real human beings, not computers. We need to be vigilant and do what we can do to protect our data from potential Cyber-attacks. My hope is that the councils quickly update their systems so that everyone remains safe and protected.