Cybersecurity

Johannesburg City Crippled as Hacker Demands Bitcoin Ransom

Local authority shut down billing system as precaution
Group called Shadow Hill Hackers are demanding about $30,000

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Roxanne Henderson and Jacqueline Mackenzie

October 25, 2019 at 6:54 AM UTC

Updated on

October 26, 2019 at 1:14 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Sign up to our Next Africa newsletter and follow Bloomberg Africa on Twitter

The City of Johannesburg shut down its website and billing systems after a group hacked into the authority’s system and demanded a ransom of four Bitcoins worth about $30,000.