Files from Gelderland municipalities are on the dark web after ransomware attack

Hundreds of thousands of files from the municipalities of Buren and Neder-Betuwe are offered on the dark web. Those files were stolen during a ransomware attack, which took place about three weeks ago.

The municipality of Buren reports that the two municipalities currently have 130GB of data on the dark web, after they were hit by a ransomware attack on April 1. The municipality goes through all the files and half of the 130GB is now in view. That is ‘more than 730,000 files’. According to the municipality, this concerns, among other things, ‘sensitive personal data and confidential information’. The municipality expects to have the full 130GB in view by the beginning of next week.

Criminals claim on the dark web that they have stolen ‘5TB’ of data, according to screenshots published on Twitter. They call the 130GB of files published to date a ‘taster’. The hackers say they have stolen ‘financial information, contracts and data of municipal employees’.

The municipalities will inform persons who are known to have published personal data. Residents of the two Gelderland municipalities are also advised to be careful when contacting someone who, for example, pretends to be an employee of their bank or the municipality. In case of doubt, it is recommended to contact the relevant municipality, bank or other authority.