extortion News

Viewpoint: Some Insurers are Delaying Payment on Ransomware Claims

Ransomware attacks are on the rise. Cyber criminals continue to exploit lax security measures, which have become more acute in the work-from-home environment, and hack into companies’ systems, encrypt their data, and then demand multimillion-dollar ransoms. Though cyber insurance policies …

DarkSide Hackers Mint Money With Ransomware Franchise

When a new ransomware group popped up on the scene last year, the hackers did what’s in vogue for digital extortion organizations these days: They issued a press release. The hackers had already made “millions of dollars” in profit working …

Ransomware Gang Threatens Release of DC Police Records

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Russian-speaking ransomware syndicate that stole data from the Washington, D.C., police department says negotiations over payment have broken down and it will release sensitive information that could put lives at risk if more money is …

Cyberattack on US Pipeline Is Linked to Criminal Gang

NEW YORK (AP) _ The cyberextortion attempt that has forced the shutdown of a vital U.S. pipeline was carried out by a criminal gang known as DarkSide that cultivates a Robin Hood image of stealing from corporations and giving a …

Insurer AXA Halts Ransomware Crime Reimbursement in France

BOSTON (AP) — In an apparent industry first, the global insurance company AXA said Thursday it will stop writing cyber-insurance policies in France that reimburse customers for extortion payments made to ransomware criminals. AXA, among Europe’s top five insurers, said …

No Ransomware Silver Bullet, Crooks Out of Reach

BOSTON (AP) — Political hand-wringing in Washington over Russia’s hacking of federal agencies and interference in U.S. politics has mostly overshadowed a worsening digital scourge with a far broader wallop: crippling and dispiriting ransomware attacks by cybercriminal mafias that mostly …

Russian Man Pleads Guilty in Nevada to Plot to Extort Tesla

RENO, Nev. (AP) — A Russian man has pleaded guilty in the U.S. to offering a Tesla employee $1 million to cripple the electric car company’s massive electric battery plant in Nevada with ransomware and steal company secrets for extortion, …

Cyberattack Hobbles Major Hospital Chain’s US Facilities

WASHINGTON — A computer outage at a major hospital chain thrust healthcare facilities across the U.S. into chaos Monday, with treatment impeded as doctors and nurses already burdened by the coronavirus pandemic were forced to rely on paper backup systems. …

Jeff Bezos Sued for Defamation by Girlfriend Lauren Sanchez’s Brother

Jeff Bezos was sued for defamation by his girlfriend’s brother in a lawsuit accusing the Amazon.com Inc. chief executive officer of falsely claiming the brother provided lurid photographs to the National Enquirer. The lawsuit was filed late Friday in Los …

11th Circuit Dismisses Suit Alleging Conspiracy to Deflate Auto Body Repair Changes

A federal appellate court affirmed a decision to throw out a racketeering lawsuit brought by a group of 126 auto body collision repair shops against seven of the largest U.S. insurers. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta agreed …