Swedish municipalities freeze 1.5 BTC due to cyber attack on IT system provider Miljödata

ChainCatcher news, according to Protos, Swedish municipalities have frozen 1.5 BTC (approximately $170,000) due to a cyber attack. This attack was a ransomware attack targeting the Swedish IT system provider Miljödata, with hackers demanding a ransom in exchange for not disclosing sensitive information. The national broadcaster STV reported that the attack was discovered on Saturday, but efforts to assess the extent of the impact were hindered as the affected computers were heavily encrypted.

In this incident, 80% of Swedish cities rely on Miljödata, with an estimated 200 municipal and regional services rendered unavailable. Affected institutions include educational institutions and some private organizations. Swedish Civil Defense Minister Carl-Oscar Bolin emphasized the importance of cybersecurity and hinted at the development of new cybersecurity legislation to enhance security requirements for organizations.