Security News > 2024 > February > EquiLend back in the saddle as ransom payment rumors swirl

Global securities finance tech company EquiLend's systems are now back online after announcing a disruptive ransomware attack nearly two weeks ago.

Providing regular updates via a dedicated web page, EquiLend almost completed its full restoration last week, waiting only for its data and analytics solutions to get back up and running.

According to cybersecurity expert Kevin Beaumont, LockBit claimed responsibility for the attack but never posted EquiLend to its leak blog, an observation he claims suggests the company negotiated a ransom payment.

For clarity, it must be said that EquiLend has not commented on whether a ransom was paid or not.

At the time of the incident's announcement, EquiLend was vocal about how proud it is of its "Rigorous backups," hinting that it may snub LockBit's demands and restore itself from those backups instead. As a company whose services are so critical to the smooth running of such a lucrative industry, EquiLend's incentive to pay would have been significant, despite the practice being strictly discouraged by the US and many other nations.

Nor has EquiLend updated its communication regarding whether any data had been lifted from its systems.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/02/06/equilend_back_in_action_as/