Arup attacked by ransomware in Hong Kong

The design firm is contracted to work on part of the multibillion-dollar Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge. Project files were locked and deleted, the department said, but it insisted that the project was still on course.

“A server at their office was attacked by ‘ransomware’ software and some of the files were encrypted for ransom from staff,” a department spokesman said told the Post.

The spokesman said staff immediately cut off the internet connection to the server and reported it to police, and that private personnel information had not been compromised because it was not stored on the hacked server.

“The Highways Department has already requested the on-site engineers and contractor to update their internet security software on the office computer networks so as to increase online security,” the spokesman told the Post, adding: “The incident has not affected the progress of the contract.”

A police source said it was being treated as a case of blackmail and is being handled by the cyber security and technology crime bureau, the newspaper reported.

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