Johannesburg Refuses to Pay Crypto Ransom After Cyberattack
The city of Johannesburg, South Africa, recently faced a major cyberattack, resulting in the shutdown of its online services and billing systems. Hackers demanded a ransom of 4 Bitcoins, equivalent to roughly $30,000, in exchange for restoring access to the city’s compromised systems. This incident underscores the growing threat of ransomware attacks targeting critical infrastructure, particularly in Africa, and highlights the challenges cities face in securing their digital assets.
Ransomware Attack Shuts Down Johannesburg’s Digital Services
The attack, which occurred last week, forced the City of Johannesburg to take down its website, e-service platforms, and billing systems as a precautionary measure. The city acknowledged the network breach on Thursday, October 24th, and immediately initiated the shutdown to prevent further damage. This attack marks the second time this year that Johannesburg’s systems have been targeted by cybercriminals. The hackers, identifying themselves as the “Shadow Kill Hackers” group, claimed responsibility and issued a ransom note demanding the cryptocurrency payment. While the city scrambled to secure its systems, residents were advised to use alternative payment methods such as EFT and third-party payment services to manage their municipal accounts. Emergency services remained accessible through a dedicated call line (112) throughout the disruption. Efforts were immediately initiated to restore critical systems.
The City of Johannesburg’s decision to refuse to pay the ransom reflects a broader trend of resistance against capitulating to cyber extortion. It demonstrates the complexities involved in dealing with ransomware attacks and the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures and proactive incident response plans for African cities managing increasing digitalization of government services.
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