Royal Mail hit by Ransomware attack: The Importance of Proactive Cybersecurity Measures

Royal Mail, the U.K.'s government-owned postal service, was hit by a ransomware attack on November 10th, 2020, that caused widespread delays in mail delivery and other disruptions. The attackers, who have yet to be identified, used the "Conti" strain of ransomware, known for its ability to spread rapidly and cause significant damage. The cybercriminals demanded a large sum of money in exchange for a decryption key to unlock the company's systems. 

In the wake of the attack, Royal Mail quickly took steps to contain the spread of the malware, shut down parts of its network, and implemented additional security measures to prevent further infections. The company also reached out to law enforcement and cybersecurity experts for assistance. 

Despite the significant disruptions caused by the attack, Royal Mail said it had not seen any evidence of data loss or theft and that customer data was not affected. The company also emphasized that the attack did not compromise the integrity of the mail itself or the security of the postal system. 

The Royal Mail attack is yet another example of the growing threat of ransomware and the importance of proper cybersecurity measures. Companies must have incident response plans in place and must regularly update security systems and educate employees on cybersecurity best practices. 

It's worth noting that the attackers used the Conti strain of Ransomware which is known for its ability to spread rapidly and cause significant damage, it's also known to be a Ransomware-as-a-service(RaaS) and is offered to other cybercriminals. This highlights the need for companies to be vigilant, as well as be prepared in case they do fall victim to an attack.

https://www.wired.com/story/royal-mail-ransomware-attack-security-roundup/

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-64231473