Last week ransomware criminals published a video showing data they accessed from the Minneapolis Public Schools’ systems, employee tax forms, student suspension letters, and more. Separately, criminals threatened to disclose intimate images from breast cancer patients’ files. Cases like these demonstrate how ransomware gangs are increasingly leaking stolen sensitive information to ensure that victims pay up.
Why this matters: Typically, ransomware criminals do not publicly disclose specific information they were able to take in an attack, since the information is used as ammunition during private negotiations with victims. However, with ransomware payouts dropping, criminals are getting creative in their tactics.
- Public ransomware attack frequency is increasing, moving away from traditional, encryption-based attacks.
- Ransomware gangs, many of which are based in Russia, have become much more forceful in their attacks since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
- Companies and individuals must be vigilant to protect their data and consistently report incidents to authorities to mitigate further damage when attacks happen.
