July 3, 2024 at 12:13PM In 2024, ransomware demands have soared, with an average extortion demand per attack surpassing $5.2 million in the first half of the year. The largest demand was $100 million following an attack on India’s RCC, followed by demands of $50 million and $25 million for other organizations. Despite a decrease … Read more
June 19, 2024 at 01:03PM Kraken, a crypto exchange, experienced a serious security breach when a researcher exploited a flaw to steal $3 million in digital assets. Although the issue was swiftly addressed, the attacker demanded payment in exchange for returning the funds. Kraken is treating the incident as a criminal case and is coordinating … Read more
June 18, 2024 at 12:36PM Two men from New York and Rhode Island pleaded guilty to hacking a US law enforcement database. Sagar Steven Singh, 20, and Nicholas Ceraolo, 26, part of the Vile group, extorted people by threatening to release stolen personal information. They accessed the database using a stolen password and faced up … Read more
June 18, 2024 at 10:54AM Two men, Sagar Steven Singh and Nicholas Ceraolo, admitted guilt in hacking a law enforcement database through their group “ViLE”. They extorted personal information for blackmail and faced charges in March 2023. Their activities involved accessing and threatening targeted individuals, with potential imprisonment sentences of two to seven years. From … Read more
May 13, 2024 at 05:28AM Recent discussions in the British parliament highlighted concerns about the country’s cybersecurity preparedness. Both public and private organizations face threats like ransomware, data breaches, and extortion. Richard Cassidy, Rubrik’s EMEA CISO, stresses the importance of proactive security measures and developing a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity posture to mitigate potential threats. … Read more
May 6, 2024 at 01:08PM Cybersecurity expert Vincent Cannady faces a 20-year prison sentence after being accused of extorting $1.5 million from a multinational IT services company by threatening to expose stolen data. Cannady, fired from his consultancy job, allegedly accessed and downloaded confidential company data, demanding a substantial settlement. He has been charged with … Read more
April 30, 2024 at 07:32PM A cyber-thief, Aleksanteri Kivimäki, was sentenced to six years and three months for stealing and blackmailing tens of thousands of patients’ records from a psychotherapy clinic in Finland. His extortion attempts triggered a surge in reported crime figures. He faces over 5,000 compensation claims and was caught in France after … Read more
April 15, 2024 at 05:55PM RansomHub gang leaks claims of stolen corporate and patient data from Change Healthcare after cyberattack. Previously linked to BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware operation, the gang threatened to release data unless a deal is reached. Screenshots of files show data-sharing agreements and patient information. Deadline set for payment of extortion demand or data … Read more
March 20, 2024 at 12:15PM Robert Purbeck, also known as Lifelock and Studmaster, has pleaded guilty to computer fraud and abuse charges in a hacking case. He admitted to targeting more than a dozen entities, stealing data and attempting extortion. He will be sentenced on June 18 and has agreed to pay over $1 million … Read more
January 23, 2024 at 01:34PM CISA Director Jen Easterly confirmed being the target of a swatting attempt on December 30, involving a false report of a shooting at her home. Swatting, a dangerous hoax, has been used for extortion and targeting government officials, including politicians and election officials. The incident is part of a concerning … Read more