A scathing cyber attack has disrupted housing services in three Greater Manchester boroughs, leaving thousands of residents at risk of a phishing scam. The breach, which affected the software company Locata, has caused the temporary closure of housing websites for Manchester, Salford, and Bolton councils, and resulted in fraudulent emails being sent to users, urging them to provide sensitive personal information.
Widespread Disruption from Cyber Incidents
The cyber attack first emerged last week, targeting Locata’s software, which is widely used by local councils to manage housing applications and services. Over the weekend, the attack escalated, causing disruptions to the public-facing housing websites operated by Manchester, Salford, and Bolton councils. Users of these services were targeted with phishing emails that appeared legitimate, asking them to “activate your tenancy options” by clicking on a link and submitting their personal details. This scam has potentially compromised the security of many individuals.
Locata’s Response and Council Actions
Locata, the company responsible for providing housing software to several councils, acknowledged the security breach on July 29. In a public statement, the company expressed regret for the incident and assured the public that they were working urgently with cybersecurity experts to investigate and contain the breach. Locata informed the affected local authorities and emphasised their commitment to resolving the issue as quickly as possible.
This article has been indexed from CySecurity News – Latest Information Security and Hacking Incidents