Daily Crunch: UK-based news site The Guardian under ransomware attack, editor says

The UK-based news site The Guardian is one of the most popular and widely-read newspapers in Britain and beyond. But the news organization has recently revealed it is the victim of a ransomware attack.

The Guardian announced on Tuesday, June 8th 2021, that it was the target of a ransomware attack which had resulted in some of its systems being temporarily held hostage. The Guardian’s editor, Katharine Viner, stated that the attack didn’t affect any customer or employee data, but affected the organization’s website, web services, email and phones.

The outlet reported that the attackers managed to gain access to some of its systems, from where they delivered a ransomware demand. The ransom demand was for digital currency and asked for payment within a certain time frame. The Guardian officers were able to identify the attackers but there is no information on how the attackers initially gained access, who are targeted this attack or the total amount owed.

Despite the attack, The Guardian stated that it was able to remain fully operational with its partnerships with other outlets, and its investigation into the attack is ongoing. However, the news site stepped up security, as protection against potential future attacks, recommending to its readers to update their passwords and ensure they have the most up-to-date security features enabled.

The news site further explained that the British Intelligence and Security services are currently looking into the incident, but have yet to provide details or confirm that the attack was launched by a particular group or nation.

The Guardian notes that large organizations, such as itself, are frequently targeted by malicious cyber groups in order to gain access to valuable information for financial or political gain. Unfortunately, this is becoming commonplace, as cybersecurity threats continue to rise.

Ransomware attacks of this kind highlight the importance of having strong security controls in place, to both prevent access and defend against malicious actors. While The Guardian was lucky to retain full operational capacity throughout the attack, the same cannot be said for other organizations that have suffered at the hand of ransomware attacks.

The Guardian’s announcement further reinforces the importance of maintaining good cybersecurity practices and being extra vigilant in the fight against cybercrime.