Security News > 2022 > June > Ransomware gang now hacks corporate websites to show ransom notes
A ransomware gang is taking extortion to a new level by publicly hacking corporate websites to publicly display ransom notes.
This new extortion strategy is being conducted by Industrial Spy, a data extortion gang that recently began using ransomware as part of their attacks.
As part of their attacks, Industrial Spy will breach networks, steal data, and deploy ransomware on devices.
When ransomware gangs extort a victim, they typically give them a short window, usually a few weeks, to negotiate and pay a ransom before they start leaking data.
This is the first time we have seen a ransomware gang defacing a website to very publicly display a ransom note.
While this tactic is outside the norm, it allows the ransomware gang to apply further pressure on a victim, as it pushes the attack into the spotlight where customers and business partners can more easily see it.