Ring Potentially Hit by Ransomware Attack from BlackCat/ALPHV

Home security company Ring may have been the victim of a ransomware or data extortion attack by Russian threat actor BlackCat/ALPHV. The group apparently posted the Ring company logo to its leaks website along with the message, “There’s always an option to let us leak your data,” CSO Online reports.

“It is unclear what data has been stolen or what ransom has been demanded, but the potential implications for customers could be severe. As a provider of home security and smart home systems, Ring may have compromised customers’ recorded footage or personal information, such as credit card numbers, mailing addresses, phone numbers, names, and passwords,” CSO Online continued.

Takeaway

This is the unfortunate reality of our permanently online and connected modern world. As more consumer devices are connected to the internet, we open ourselves up to the possibility that the data they collect will be exposed, held hostage, or used for malicious purposes.

Theft of sensitive data prior to delivery of the actual ransomware payload is a favored tactic for most ransomware operators. It was only a matter of time before consumer privacy became yet another casualty of the ransomware epidemic. If these early reports of BlackCat/ALPHV’s attack on Ring are accurate, we can assume that the group has already exfiltrated a significant amount of sensitive data which they will likely leverage to compel payment when they make their ransom demand. This could include data that was stored in the cloud.

BlackCat/ALPHV is known to post stolen data to leaks websites on the public web as opposed to the dark web like other groups, so any leaked personally identifiable information would be greatly exposed. BlackCat/ALPHV is one of the more active RaaS platforms - they demanded millions of dollars over the course of 2022.

But even if Ring is ready and able to respond to the ransomware attack, they will still have to contend with possibly paying BlackCat/ALPHV to prevent further data exposure, and even then there is no guarantee the attackers will honor their end of the agreement.

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