Leicester streetlights take ransomware attack personally, shine on 24/7

It's become somewhat cliché in cybersecurity reporting to speculate whether an organization will have the resources to "keep the lights on" after an attack. But the opposite turns out to be true with Leicester City Council following its March ransomware incident.

Nearly two months after INC Ransom's attack hit the council's systems, residents' reports now have us thinking everyone in the city is donning thick shades to manage their newfound Svalbard-esque perpetual brightness.

Of course, it's not that serious, but according to Roger Ewens, 65, of Beaumont Leys, the streetlights on his road have been shining brightly all day and night for some time.

When he asked the council why the curtains keeping Beaumont Leys' bedrooms dark and cozy were being put to the test, he was told that it was a residual issue caused by the council's recent cyberattack.

Local media reported the council's reply to Ewens, which explained that the knock-on effects of shutting down systems after detecting INC Ransom's cyberattack meant the "central management system" responsible for controlling the streetlights was "misbehaving."

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