DLA Piper Hit by Cyber Attack, Phones and Computers Down Across the Firm

Data Breach.

The shutdown appears to have been caused by a ransomware attack,similar to the WannaCry attack that hit organizations such as theNHS last month.

DLA Piper has been hit by a major cyber attack, which hasknocked out phones and computers across the firm.

The shutdown appears to have been caused by a ransomware attack,similar to the WannaCry attack that hit organizations such as theNHS last month.

DLA's phone system has not been working for much of the day andpartners say they have been instructed to turn off their computersas a precaution.

Offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the US calledbyLegal Weekall seem to have been affected,with some inside the firm saying email and phone systems have beenaffected with other systems then locked down as a precaution.

One partner in the firm's London office said: I'm aware thefirm's IT guys have shut the systems down as a precautionarymeasure in response. It's very frustrating I'll have a lot ofemails to deal with later. I can't believe there's been anotherglobal attack so soon after the last one.

DLA said in a statement: The firm, like many other reportedcompanies, has experienced issues with some of its systems due tosuspected malware. We are taking steps to remedy the issue asquickly as possible.

The BBC is reporting that multiple organizations have beenaffected by the hack including Russian oil producer Rosneft andDanish shipping company Maersk.

The news comes after a ransomware attack called WannaCry hitorganizations around the world in May, including the UK's NationalHealth Service.

At the time law firms were highlighted as potential targets forsuch an attack in the future.

Steve Hill, ex-deputy director in the UK government NationalSecurity Secretariat dealing with cyber securitytoldLegal Weekat that time:There is ahuge criminal cyber threat to law firms. The hackers perpetratingthese types of attacks will not be teenage boys they are criminalgangs set up to exploit law firms for sensitive data or lock peopleout of the data in return for a ransom.

Michael Chissick, Fieldfisher managing partner, said: This hasbeen a global hack with numerous businesses and firms reportingproblems. This is the reality of the modern world and hackers willkeep trying to attack business in all forms. All law firms,including DLA, are doing their utmost to protect clients andthemselves.

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