Glasgow City Council's Planning Portal Resumes After Cyber Attack
Glasgow City Council's public planning portal has resumed operations following a cyber attack that occurred on June 19. The incident was detected by the council's ICT supplier, CGI, who found malicious activity on servers managed by a third party. The council is collaborating with Police Scotland, the Scottish Cyber Co-ordination Centre, and the National Cyber Security Centre to investigate the matter.
Forensic work related to the attack has been completed, and while no evidence of data loss has been identified so far, there remains a concern that data may have been compromised until further analysis is conducted. In response to the attack, affected servers were isolated to protect the wider network; however, this action disrupted various digital services.
As services are gradually restored, public access to planning applications was reactivated recently. Other services being reinstated include pensions and Freedom of Information requests. A spokesperson for the council expressed regret over any inconvenience caused during this period of disruption.
Original article
Real Value Analysis
This article provides limited value to an average individual. In terms of actionability, the article does not offer concrete steps or guidance that readers can take to protect themselves from cyber attacks or mitigate their impact. Instead, it reports on the council's response to the incident and their collaboration with law enforcement agencies.
The article also lacks educational depth, failing to provide explanations of causes, consequences, or technical knowledge that could equip readers to understand cyber attacks and their prevention. The text primarily consists of factual statements about the incident and its aftermath without offering any meaningful insights or analysis.
The subject matter may have personal relevance for individuals who use Glasgow City Council's public planning portal, but this is a relatively narrow group. For most readers, the content is unlikely to impact their daily life or finances directly.
The article does serve a public service function by reporting on the council's efforts to investigate and respond to the cyber attack. However, this information is primarily of interest to those directly affected by the incident rather than providing general public benefit.
In terms of practicality, any recommendations or advice in the article are vague and do not provide concrete steps for readers to take. The text simply states that affected servers were isolated and services are being gradually restored without offering guidance on how readers can protect themselves from similar incidents in the future.
The article has limited potential for long-term impact and sustainability, as it focuses on a specific incident rather than promoting behaviors or policies with lasting positive effects.
There is no apparent attempt in the article to foster a constructive emotional or psychological impact on readers. Instead, it presents a neutral report on an event without attempting to inspire resilience, hope, critical thinking, or empowerment.
Finally, there is no evidence that this article was written primarily for entertainment purposes such as generating clicks rather than serving advertisements; however its lackluster content makes it unlikely someone would click through unless they were already interested in Glasgow City Council news
Emotion Resonance Analysis
The input text conveys a range of emotions, from regret and concern to relief and reassurance. The strongest emotion expressed is concern, which appears in the phrase "there remains a concern that data may have been compromised until further analysis is conducted." This concern is evident throughout the text, as the council acknowledges the potential risk of data loss and takes steps to mitigate it. The use of words like "malicious activity," "incident," and "attack" creates a sense of unease, underscoring the severity of the situation.
The council's regret over any inconvenience caused during the disruption is also palpable. A spokesperson for the council expresses regret over any inconvenience caused, which shows empathy towards those affected by the disruption. This emotional tone helps to build trust with readers by demonstrating that the council takes responsibility for its actions and cares about its customers.
The text also conveys a sense of relief, particularly when it reports that forensic work has been completed and no evidence of data loss has been identified so far. The use of phrases like "public access to planning applications was reactivated recently" creates a sense of normalcy returning to operations.
The writer uses various tools to create an emotional impact on readers. For example, repeating ideas like "the incident was detected by..." helps to emphasize key points and create a sense of clarity. Telling a brief story about how services are being gradually restored also helps readers understand what happened during this period.
Furthermore, making something sound more extreme than it is can be seen in phrases like "the wider network" being disrupted by isolating affected servers. This exaggeration emphasizes the severity of the situation but may also be intended to create worry among readers.
In terms of shaping opinions or limiting clear thinking, knowing where emotions are used can help readers stay in control. For instance, when reading about potential data loss concerns or disruptions caused by isolating servers, readers should consider whether these concerns are based on facts or feelings created through language choices.
In conclusion, examining emotions in this text reveals how they shape reader reactions and understanding. By recognizing these emotional cues – such as concern for potential data loss or relief at normalcy returning – readers can better navigate complex information presented in news articles like this one.
Bias analysis
The text states that the council is "collaborating" with various organizations to investigate the cyber attack, which implies a sense of cooperation and joint effort. However, this word choice hides the fact that the council is actually working with these organizations to determine what happened and who was responsible. The use of "collaborating" creates a neutral tone, suggesting that all parties are working together equally, when in reality, one party (the council) may be more involved in determining the outcome.
The text says "no evidence of data loss has been identified so far," which creates a false sense of security. The use of "so far" implies that there may be evidence later on, but it also downplays the fact that data loss is still a possibility. This phrase creates a sense of uncertainty and ambiguity, which can lead readers to feel more at ease than they should be.
The text states that affected servers were isolated to protect the wider network, but it does not explain why this action disrupted various digital services. This omission creates a lack of transparency and accountability for the disruption caused by the council's actions.
A spokesperson for the council expressed regret over any inconvenience caused during this period of disruption. The use of "regret" as a verb implies that the spokesperson is truly sorry for what happened, but it also downplays their responsibility in causing or allowing the disruption to occur.
The text says forensic work related to the attack has been completed, but it does not explain what this work entailed or what was discovered during its course. This lack of detail creates an incomplete picture and leaves readers wondering about important aspects of what happened.
The text states that public access to planning applications was reactivated recently. The use of "reactivated" implies that these services were previously available but then became unavailable due to circumstances beyond their control. However, this word choice hides the fact that these services were likely disrupted due to human error or negligence on behalf of those responsible for maintaining them.
The text says other services being reinstated include pensions and Freedom of Information requests. The inclusion of these specific examples creates an impression that all affected services are being restored equally quickly and efficiently when in reality some may have been prioritized over others.
The spokesperson's expression of regret over any inconvenience caused during this period suggests an attempt at virtue signaling by acknowledging potential wrongdoing while minimizing responsibility for it