Cyber hackers demand £3,000 ransom from council for the return of ALLOTMENT waiting list
The targeted attack on the computers at Tiverton Council wiped hundreds of important records
HACKERS are demanding £3,000 from a Devon council for the safe return of its allotment waiting list.
A targeted cyber attack on the computers at Tiverton Council wiped hundreds of important records dating back to 2015.
Whilst the council’s finance documents were not breached, hundreds of letters - including the personal details of several local residents - now lie in the hands of unknown criminals.
Local allotment plans have also been stolen, meaning months of resident applications are now in jeopardy, .
The 'Locky ransomware' hack has scrambled the council’s records into encrypted code, meaning they are unreadable.
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In order for the files to be retrieved, the hackers have demanded the council handover £3,000 - or face losing the data altogether.
“It’s a lesson to use all,” said John Vanderwolfe, the town clerk who fell victim to the hack last week.
“The virus was horrible and now all of our documents are encrypted. Instead of [Microsoft] Word for example, it comes up with gobbledygook.”
Mr Vanderwolfe unwittingly allowed the hackers t access the computer system as he belived he was opening an innocent message.
“As soon as I did that, that was it - the worst thing that could happen,” he added.
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed they were aware of the attack adding officers had since given Tiverton Town Council advice on internet security.
A spokesman said that the force had also warned other local councils of the threat, to ensure their online security is capable of dealing with future attacks.