Suffolk County Council confirmed its website and various other online services were unavailable after a cyber-attack. The incident, which began on Thursday morning, has been identified as a denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. A DDoS attack works by flooding a website with an overwhelming amount of traffic, making it impossible for legitimate users to access the site. The council’s IT department is actively working to restore the affected services.
A spokesperson for the council stated that work is ongoing to bring the website back online and that the council takes the security of its digital infrastructure seriously. They reassured the public that no sensitive data has been compromised in this incident, as the attack was focused on service availability rather than data theft. The council is also coordinating with external cybersecurity experts to investigate the source of the attack and to strengthen its defenses against future threats.
The attack has also impacted other organizations in the region. A social media group has publicly claimed responsibility for the cyber-attack, stating they have “dropped” multiple sites, including the Suffolk County Council website. The group’s claim suggests a coordinated effort targeting several local entities, including the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce and Harwich Town Council in Essex. This indicates a broader, regional focus to the attack, impacting a range of public and private sector services.
The disruption has temporarily affected residents’ ability to access important information and services online, such as paying council tax, applying for permits, and accessing public notices. The council has advised citizens to use alternative methods of contact, such as phone lines, for urgent inquiries. They have also posted updates on their social media channels to keep the public informed about the progress of the restoration efforts.
The incident highlights the growing threat of cyber-attacks on public services. As more government functions move online, they become potential targets for malicious actors. Authorities are now assessing the full extent of the damage and are collaborating to enhance cybersecurity measures across the county to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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