Alain Mattelé BV Targeted by Stormous Ransomware Group

Alain Mattelé BV, a metalworking and smeedwerken company located in Ranst, Antwerp, has recently fallen victim to the ransomware group Stormous. The announcement of the attack was made on the group's dark web leak site. Operating within the Manufacturing sector, Alain Mattelé BV has evolved from a modest one-man operation to a BVBA, now employing a team of seven.

Company Background

Founded in 1996 by Alain Mattele, the company initially operated out of a small atelier within the old buildings of his family's business. Over the years, Alain Mattelé BV has seen significant growth, relocating to a larger workshop in 2000 and welcoming its first employee. The year 2020 marked a significant expansion of the workshop by 220 square meters. Furthering its technological capabilities, in 2023, the company invested in a fiber laser capable of cutting metal plates up to 15mm thick.

Vulnerabilities and Impact

The ransomware attack on Alain Mattelé BV is indicative of a broader pattern of cybercrime targeting businesses globally, often leading to personal data breaches. While the specific vulnerabilities exploited in this attack remain unspecified, it is widely recognized that ransomware groups exploit weaknesses in computer systems to deploy their malware, causing significant operational disruptions and potential financial and data losses.

The incident involving Alain Mattelé BV underscores the persistent threat of cybercrime to businesses across various sectors. Despite the lack of detailed information on the attack's specifics, it is evident that the company's size and growth trajectory made it an attractive target for cybercriminals. The repercussions of such an attack are far-reaching, potentially encompassing data breaches, financial damage, and operational interruptions.

Sources

• Alain Mattelé BV website: http://www.alainmattele.be
• Ransomfeed: http://ransomfeed.it/?date=2022
• Russian National Charged with Ransomware Attacks Against Critical Infrastructure: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/russian-national-charged-ransomware-attacks-against-critical-infrastructure
• Ransomware Posts - GitHub Pages: https://privtools.github.io/ransomposts/