Multiple London councils 'hit by cyber-attacks'

London councils, including Kensington & Chelsea, Hackney, and Westminster, have reported cyber-attacks affecting their IT operations. Hackney Council elevated its cyber security threat level to "critical," urging staff to safeguard residents' personal data. Westminster City Council faced communication challenges and proactively shut down its networks in response to the incidents. An internal memo revealed that Kensington & Chelsea has had some systems offline for two to three days. Mayor Sadiq Khan noted the need for improved cyber resilience, referencing previous attacks on other institutions.

Officials are working with cyber specialists to investigate the source of the attacks and restore services. Hackney Council previously suffered a significant cyber attack in 2020, which led to a reprimand from the Information Commissioner's Office for inadequate data security. The current incidents highlight ongoing vulnerabilities in council IT systems and the necessity for enhanced protective measures.