Van der Helm Targeted by DoNex Ransomware Group

Van der Helm has been attacked by DoNex ransomware group. The attack allegedly exfiltrated 39 GB of data, including miscellaneous documents such as invoices, agreements, personal documents, financial data, and so on. Van der Helm is a family business that was founded in 1936. To this day, it offers customized logistics solutions. It has knowledge and capacity in transport, warehousing, and customs formalities.

DoNex: A New Threat on the Horizon

DoNex is a new ransomware group actively targeting entities in the United States and Europe. The group has begun listing companies as its victims on its dark web portal, accessible via the Onion network. The group’s tactics are especially insidious, employing a double-extortion method, which encrypts files, which are then appended with a unique VictimID extension. The group also exfiltrates sensitive data and holds it hostage to leverage additional pressure on the victims to pony up the ransom.

Modus Operandi of DoNex

In line with the typical behavior of ransomware groups, after encrypting the files, DoNex generates a ransom note on the victim's computer. This note usually appears as either a text file or a pop-up window and includes detailed instructions on how to pay the ransom to get the decryption key. Victims have discovered ransom notes named Readme.VictimID.txt on their systems, which instruct them to establish contact with the DoNex group through Tox messenger, a peer-to-peer instant messaging service known for its security and anonymity features.