Security News > 2021 > January > Clop ransomware gang clips sensitive files from Atlantic Records' London ad agency The7stars, dumps them online

A London ad agency that counts Atlantic Records, Suzuki, and Penguin Random House among its clients has had its files dumped online by a ransomware gang, The Register can reveal.

In the same accounts filed with UK register Companies House, it boasted of its position as the "Largest independently owned media agency in the UK by a significant factor", making it a juicy target for the Clop ransomware extortionists.

Publication of stolen files on a ransomware crew's website is typically an indicator that a ransom demand has been rebuffed, though more aggressive tactics seen in the last year include pre-emptive leaking of stolen data as an apparent incentive for marks to pay up quickly.

An ICO spokesperson sent us a statement: "We received a report from the7stars about a ransomware attack and we are making enquiries to assess the information provided."

As we reported last year when the same extortionist gang targeted Germany's Software AG, the Clop criminals are noticeably pushier than others running the same steal 'n' extort scam.

"We can confirm that we recently experienced an IT incident, in the form of a sophisticated ransomware attack," a spokesperson for the7star told The Register.

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