1.) A ransomware gang named Medusa is asking for a ransom of $1,000,000 from the Minneapolis Public Schools and has threatened to leak sensitive details if the victim fails to pay the demanded sum on time. MedusaLocker is a new malware variant spreading in the wild since 2021 and has so far targeted educational institutions and two manufacturing firms of electronic products.
Now, the latest victim happens to be the Minneapolis Public School District and the educational institution has made it clear that it will never pay any ransom to the hackers as it has other plans to recover data by various means.
2.) Second is the news related to IceFire Ransomware that has been targeting Windows and Linux machines for the past weeks. SentinelOne security researchers have discovered that the file encrypting malware gang has exploited a vulnerability in IBM Aspera Faspex file sharing software and has, to date, targeted machines operating in Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and the UAE.
3.) Indian Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started a fresh investigation on the ammunition maker Solar Group that manufacturers ammunition and gun parts for the Indian army. A few weeks ago, BlackCat aka Alphv ransomware group alleged to have stolen about 39GB data and demanded a sum from the victim. As it did not respond positively, the gang exposed about 5GB information related to explosives, missile heads, grenades, rockets, as well as propellants.
After a complaint was launched at a police station in Nagpur City, the case was transferred to CBI and a special probe has been launched to reach to the core of the incident.
4.) Next is the news related to a Canada-based company called Black & McDonald. According to a media update, someone launched a ransomware attack against the company that manufactures equipment for military and power plants.
Neal Kelly, the spokesperson for Ontario Power Generation, confirmed the news and assured that they would reveal more details about the incident after the preliminary inquiries were over.
