A major cyber attack has hit three West London councils, with Kensington and Chelsea Council confirming that attackers successfully copied and removed historical data from their systems.
What Happened in the Council Cyber Attack?
The security breach occurred on Monday morning, affecting Kensington and Chelsea Council along with neighbouring authorities Hammersmith and Fulham and Westminster City Council. All three local authorities share some IT services and systems, with the issue understood to have originated at Kensington and Chelsea.
In a concerning development, Kensington and Chelsea Council revealed that some information has been copied and taken away by the attackers. However, the council believes the breach only impacts historical archived data from 2006-2020.
Council Leader Elizabeth Campbell stated: "As soon as I was informed there might be a data breach impacting residents, I asked officers to make sure we tell people at the earliest possible opportunity."
Council Response and Investigation
The incident has prompted significant security measures across all affected councils. Kensington and Chelsea arranged for some staff to work from home as a precautionary measure following Monday's attack.
Internal memos seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service asked staff "to remain vigilant and report any unusual or suspicious online activity to Tech Hub immediately."
Westminster City Council has temporarily shut down its computer networks as a precaution, while Hammersmith and Fulham Council confirmed they were able to isolate and safeguard their network following the cyber attack.
The National Crime Agency is now leading the investigation into the incident, with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) also informed about the potential data breach.
Impact on Residents and Services
While the councils work to restore normal operations, residents are being advised to take precautions. The council guidance states: "If you have bought something from us, for example a parking permit, make sure bank and card details are safe and secure, and be vigilant."
Kensington and Chelsea Council has announced it will be operating its Customer Service Centre at Kensington Town Hall this weekend from 10am to 4pm for emergency in-person queries.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has temporarily suspended some applications, including My Account, while their teams work to review systems and restore business as usual.
The council warned that services could face at least two weeks of significant disruption, though essential council services will continue to run during this period.
Council Leader Elizabeth Campbell emphasised the importance of transparency: "All I know is - as a resident myself - I would want to know this information as soon as possible and then be able to make my own choices, follow advice, and protect myself if I think necessary."
