The City of Antwerp is no longer listed as one of the organizations that the hacker group Play has compromised on its website. Uncertainty surrounds the meaning of this. Geert Baudewijns, a cyber security specialist, asserts that it's possible that either talk between the hackers and the City of Antwerp is in progress or that there is already a deal in place, in which case a ransom payment may have been made.
A week and a half ago, the City of Antwerp was the target of a significant cyber-attack, which has since caused the suspension of several of the city's public services. A City Hall position is not often easy to get, and the hacking impacts libraries, museums, and schools.
The Play hacker collective claimed responsibility for the hacking of its website on the so-called "dark web" not long after the City of Antwerp's websites were compromised. The city officials had until Monday, December 19 to comply with the collective's ransom demand.
If not, the gang threatens to upload more than 500 gigabytes of information on the city and its residents, including all personal information, to the internet.
Negotiation or ransomware?
Only two possible explanations exist for the city's disappearance from the Play website. Geert Baudewijns of Secutec, a cyber-security specialist, told VRT News, a local media outlet, "Either the talks are proceeding apace. or the city has made the payment. Despite the fact that I am not taking part in the negotiations, I can speak from negotiation experience."
"A firm may occasionally be required to pay a ransom equal to up to 10% of its annual revenue." For municipal or city officials, however, things may be very different. I am unable to remark on that.
According to Tim Verheyden of VRT NWS, Play is well-known in the hacker community. They were in charge of significant cyberattacks against the United States, Canada, Bulgaria, Switzerland, and now the City of Antwerp. The reason it is no longer visible on Play's website has not yet been addressed by the City of Antwerp.