Hunters International Ransomware Gang Attacks Paulmann Licht

Hunters International ransomware gang has attacked Paulmann Licht. The hackers gave the victim a little over two days to contact them to complete the negotiations. The gang didn’t disclose any information regarding the value of the ransom or the terms of the negotiation but posted evidence regarding the incident on its TOR platform. Paulmann Licht is one of the leading manufacturers in the lighting industry in Germany, with a full range of over 2,500 luminaires and lamps. It packs a revenue of around $57 million with over 330 employees.

Hunters International: A Ransomware-as-a-Service Group

Hunters International, a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group, emerged in Q3 of 2023 after the discovery of source code bearing resemblances to the infamous Hive ransomware strain. In October 2023, a security researcher's analysis of the ransomware used by Hunters revealed significant code overlaps with Hive ransomware. Subsequent analysis by Bitdefender came to the same findings, leading researchers to conclude that Hive operators have handed off their malicious tool to another threat actor. Despite this, Hunters International has denied any ties to the Hive operation.

Modus Operandi and Impact

Intelligence suggests that Hunters International ransomware primarily aims to exfiltrate target data and extort victims with ransom demands for its return. One reported incident involved a plastic surgery clinic in the US, where approximately 248,000 files, including patient names and addresses, were exfiltrated. The ransomware encrypts files with the ".LOCKED" extension and leaves "Contact Us.txt" files in directories, instructing victims on how to initiate negotiation on the dark web. Successful exploitation by Hunters International typically results in significant data exfiltration prior to issuing a ransom demand, often tailored to the perceived value of the compromised organization.