Portsmouth City Council has recently experienced a cyber attack, joining several other local authorities that have been targeted. This particular incident involved a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack attributed to a group known as NoName057(16). In addition to Portsmouth, councils in Salford and Middlesbrough have also reported similar disruptions.

The council assured its residents that while the website is currently experiencing difficulties, no services provided by the council were compromised, nor was any personal data at risk. In a statement on their social media platform, the council acknowledged the ongoing cyber attack: “We can confirm that the Portsmouth City Council website is undergoing a cyber attack, which means you will experience issues when trying to use the site.”

They emphasized that despite being affected by this DDoS attack, which is part of a broader trend impacting multiple UK local authorities, all essential council services remain operational and secure. The statement continued to inform residents about potential interruptions to their website access for an unspecified duration while expressing regret for any inconveniences caused.

The council also reassured the community that staff remain available during business hours to address inquiries. Residents still have the option to utilize online services and make transactions through the MyPortsmouth platform.

This week has seen similar incidents affecting other councils. Salford, Bury, and Trafford reported temporary disruptions to their websites but confirmed they are now functioning normally again. Middlesbrough Council’s site was taken offline on Wednesday after its IT department detected an issue linked to the ongoing cyber activities.

A spokesperson from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) stated that they are providing guidance and support to councils facing these challenges. They noted that although DDoS attacks are generally not sophisticated or deeply damaging, they can significantly disrupt access for legitimate users attempting to engage with online services.

In other news from the region, a project aimed at pedestrianizing parts of Withington in Manchester is set to commence on Monday. Additionally, local charities and council officials are intensifying efforts to provide warm accommodations for rough sleepers as winter approaches. An exhibition showcasing 80 scenes from D-Day created by 180 women adds cultural richness to community events in the area.