In a widespread cyber attack, a notorious hacker group called Clop exposed numerous victims' names and company profiles. The gang is currently holding the stolen data hostage and has resorted to publishing the information on its darknet website to pressure the victims to pay up. Among the affected parties are twenty-six organisations, including banks, universities, and US federal bodies. The reach of this mass hack is suspected to extend to hundreds of organisations globally, with approximately 50 confirmations of breaches thus far, either through company announcements or disclosures by the hackers themselves. The hacker's leak site showcases some companies from the United States, Switzerland, and Canada. Oil giant Shell and other companies have already acknowledged their status as a victim.
Chris Morgan, a senior cyber threat intelligence analyst at ReliaQuest, explains that the group initiates negotiations with the affected organisations once Clop exposes the targeted companies on its leak site. The hackers demand ransom payments to prevent the public release of the compromised data. Typically, the hackers set a deadline, prompting victims to establish contact within a specific timeframe.
SOURCE: CYBER SECURITYDIVE | JUNE 19 2023
