Key Points
- A recently emerged dark web entity known as Ransomed.vc is suspected of conducting a significant ransomware attack on Sony Corporation.
- This group is believed to be operating from Russia and Ukraine and is said to use EU data privacy laws to assist in their attacks.
- Despite being previously targeted in a similar breach in 2011, Sony has not provided any statements about the scale of the damage resulting from this recent attack.
Sony Group Corp. has recently fallen victim to a significant ransomware attack, believed to be carried out by a newly discovered group lurking in the dark corners of the internet.
Here’s what went down: A group called Ransomed.vc, which seems to be fairly new in the dark web scene, claims that they’ve successfully breached all of Sony’s computer systems. What’s peculiar about this group is that they play a dual role – not only do they carry out ransomware attacks themselves, but they also offer ransomware-as-a-service to others, as reported by VGC.
This group is said to operate from Russia and Ukraine and appears to adhere to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and various other data privacy laws. Their modus operandi involves identifying weaknesses in a company’s computer systems and reporting any breaches of data privacy laws. Apparently, they use this as leverage to pressure their victims into complying with their demands, according to Cyber Security Connect.
As of now, Sony has yet to make a public statement regarding the breach or the extent to which Ransomed.vc has impacted the company.
Sony has been down this road before. Back in 2011, they faced a major security breach when hackers got into the PlayStation Network, compromising around 77 million user accounts and causing the network to shut down completely.
Why it’s a big deal: Cybersecurity attacks, especially ones involving ransomware, have been on the rise, putting companies all over the world at risk. Sony’s recent alleged breach highlights just how important it is for businesses to have strong cybersecurity systems in place to defend against these threats. The emergence of groups like Ransomed.vc, who seem to manipulate data privacy laws to carry out their attacks, adds a new and complicated layer to this ongoing problem.
This incident also brings up some questions about the effectiveness of data privacy regulations like GDPR. If these laws can be used by groups to help them in their attacks, it suggests that there might be some weaknesses that need fixing.
For Sony, this breach serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in their systems, especially after the massive PlayStation Network attack in 2011. The whole industry is going to be keeping a close eye on how Sony responds to this alleged attack, as it could influence future cybersecurity measures for everyone.
