Industry News
Berlin Refuses $2 Million Ransom Demand, Hackers Dump 5.7TB of Stolen Data
BeInCrypto · 6 Sept 2026
Key Takeaway
Assume that any stolen data could eventually be published, so focus on preventing breaches through strong access controls, backups, and monitoring rather than relying on ransom negotiations.
Hackers targeting Berlin's state government demanded a ransom of 30 Bitcoin, worth roughly $2 million, after breaching its systems and stealing data. The state government refused to pay.
In response, the attackers published 5.7 terabytes of stolen data on the dark web, a common tactic used by ransomware and extortion groups to pressure victims and punish those who do not pay.
This case highlights the ongoing risk of double extortion attacks, where criminals not only encrypt or steal data but threaten public release to force payment. Refusing to pay does not eliminate the fallout, as leaked data can still be used for fraud, identity theft, or further attacks.