The Company’s Data Stolen, Ransom Demanded in Bitcoins
In a shocking turn of events, the central cyber police have taken action against unknown individuals for hacking into the server of an advertising agency located in Kurla. The hackers managed to steal valuable data from the company and have demanded a hefty ransom of ₹4.5 lakh in Bitcoins to prevent the information from being irreparably damaged. The police have revealed that the hackers threatened to delete crucial data belonging to the company if their demands were not met.
The incident first came to light on May 3, when employees of the advertising agency encountered difficulties while attempting to log into their servers. After utilizing the “forgot password” feature to gain access, they discovered that a significant amount of data was missing. It was later revealed by the company’s third-party IT contractors that a text file had been left on the server by the hackers. The message in the file blamed the security vulnerabilities of the company for the data breach and insisted on the payment of a ransom to safeguard the files from further harm. The hackers warned that any attempts to recover or delete the stolen data would result in its complete destruction. Additionally, they threatened to sell or leak the information if the ransom was not paid promptly.
Investigations into the matter revealed that the hackers had utilized the Brute Force Attack method to crack the password through trial and error. The advertising agency sought the assistance of a cyber security company to probe further into the breach. A report submitted by the cyber security firm confirmed the method used by the hackers to gain unauthorized access. The police received a complaint from Pranay Ramaiyaa, a 33-year-old resident of Thane and an employee of the advertising agency. Subsequently, a case was registered against the unidentified hackers under various sections of the Information Technology Act and Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita for offenses related to extortion and tampering with computer source documents.
Overall, the breach serves as a stark reminder of the importance of robust security measures in safeguarding sensitive data from malicious cyber attacks. It highlights the evolving nature of cyber threats and the need for organizations to remain vigilant in protecting their digital assets. The incident also underscores the critical role played by cyber security experts in identifying and mitigating potential risks to prevent data breaches and financial losses. As technology continues to advance, it is imperative for businesses to stay ahead of cyber criminals by implementing proactive security measures and regularly updating their defense mechanisms.
