D.C. police computers breached by hacker, department says

The Metropolitan Police Department appears to be the latest victim of a computer hacking group that is threatening to leak sensitive information unless the agency pays a ransom.

Screenshots on the dark web posted by the ransomware group Babuk Locker appear to show stolen MPD data on informants, gangs and officer discipline, according to documents obtained by The Washington Times.

The group claims to have downloaded more than 250 gigabytes of internal data that it will leak to gangs “to drain the informants” if the MPD does not contact them within three days.

An MPD spokesperson said Tuesday that the department is “aware of unauthorized access on our server.”

“While we determine the full impact and continue to review activity, we have engaged the FBI to fully investigate this matter,” the spokesperson said in an email. “There is no further information available to provide at this time.”

The FBI did not immediately respond to an email request for comment about the investigation.

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