Sony attack – Ransomed.vc claims responsibility
Share this:
A ransomware gang named Ransomed.vc claims to have hacked Sony and is offering for sale the data it has stolen.
The hack was first reported today by Cybersecurity Connect, which writes that the Ransomed.vc ransomware gang has been operating for only a short time. Ransomed.vc is reported to have included some proof-of-hack data, but it’s noted as not being compelling information.
The group is said to have originally posted the details of the hack on both its regular internet site and its dark web site. However, the group’s regular site has been taken offline along with its social media accounts. The hack is still listed on its dark web site, with the group claiming to “have successfully compromissed all of sony systems” and that it’s not interested in ransoming the data and instead wants to sell it.
The price being requested for the stolen is not listed. The group asked would-be buyers to contact it on the Tox messaging service.
Sony is not the only company listed on the Ransomed.vc. The dark web site also claims to have hacked Japanese mobile operator NTT Docomo and is demanding a ransom payment of $1.015 million not to release stolen data. There are also dozens of other victims listed on the site, although most are small companies.
Ransomed.vc first emerged in late August and adopted a unique tactic involving the European Union’s GDPR. The group threatens compromised companies with the prospect of GDPR fines after breaching their sites.
As of the time of writing, Sony has yet to comment on the matter, and it’s important to understand that we only have one side of the story—and the side we have comes from a group of criminals. The claims of Sony’s compromise may yet prove false or, perhaps more likely, exaggerated.
Presuming the claims by Ransomed.vc is true. This is not the first time that Sony has been hacked. The company was targeted by North Korean-linked hackers in 2014, causing it to delay the release of a movie about North Korea. The hack also resulted in network issues, the embarrassing exposure of internal correspondence and secrets, including financials and movie scripts, and the release of personal details of celebrities.
