Latest cybersecurity reporting from selected sources.

A U.S. government agency paid $1M to Kairos, a group focused on data theft and extortion rather than ransomware, Ransom-ISAC reports. A new case study from Ransom-ISAC reconstructs a complete data-extortion incident involving a U.S. government body and a threat actor called Kairos, using a leaked negotiation transcript and blockchain tracing of the ransom payment. […]

A U.S. government entity paid about $1 million to keep stolen files from being leaked, according to a new case study by Rakesh Krishnan for Ransom-ISAC, built on a leaked negotiation chat and the blockchain trail the payment left

A 5-year study on the Ransomware Economy found that 30,515 exposed databases were hit by ransom attacks, causing massive damage despite victims never paying. Database extortion doesn’t look like the ransomware stories that usually grab headlines. There’s no slick branding, no leak-site countdown, no gang posting memes on Telegram. In most cases, there’s just a […]

Russia-Linked Ransomware Group Dumps Customer Data After Failed Extortion AttemptUnder Armour may trade on the "blood, sweat, respect" slogan, but a Russia-linked ransomware group hasn't been abiding, after they stole data pertaining to 72.7 million of the athleisure giant's customers, then leaked it on darkweb sites after saying the retailer refused to pay a ransom.

More Than 100,000 Affected by Hack Detected on Dec. 30The New Zealand government is probing a year-end ransomware hack of private healthcare service provider Manage My Health that impacted thousands of patients. Digital extortion group Kazu has claimed responsibility and threatened to leak the data on Jan. 15 unless it receives a $60,000 ransom.

7.2 Million Individuals' Personal Data Being Held to Ransom by Threat ActorA data-leak group extortion is shaking down the government of Paraguay for a ransom payment worth $7.4 million, or $1 for every one of the country's citizens. The group, calling itself Brigada Cyber PMC, claims the stolen data includes people's personally identifiable information.

Though the group initially stuck to classic ransomware TTPs before demanding the ransom, it went off script when it began threatening the group and detailing potential consequences the victim would face.

The letters mimic typical ransom notes and threaten to delete or leak compromised data if payments aren't made, though none of the organizations that received them had active ransomware attacks.

Georgia-Based Memorial Hospital and Manor Among Embargo Group's Latest VictimsEmbargo, a newcomer group to the ransomware scene, is threatening to begin publishing 1.15 terabytes of data belonging to a small rural Georgia hospital and nursing home attacked last week unless a ransom is paid before Tuesday. Experts say the double extortion gang disables victims' security tools.