DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

Haggling With Hackers: Surprising Lessons From 50 Negotiations With Ransomware Gangs

Posted on August 19, 2023 by Dissent

Christopher Janaro writes:

The prevailing wisdom from cybersecurity experts is that trying to negotiate with ransomware hackers is a bad idea, but on December 30, 2020, one victim broke the rules and gave it a shot.

“Help?” they typed into one of the compromised computers.

“Hello,” one of the hackers replied. “Are you ready to negotiate? Your network and all of your data were encrypted by [the] CONTI team. Besides the encryption process, we’ve downloaded a large pack of your internal documents and files that will be published in case our negotiations fail. The recovery price is $8,500,000.”

The haggling commences.

Read more at PCMagazine.

This piece may encourage some victims to do what law enforcement recommends against doing — paying attackers.  If the victim feels they have no option but to pay, however, being aware of what  Valéry Marchive found and shared about ransom negotiations can be helpful. If a company has pre-considered whether they would ever pay ransom in the event of a ransomware attack and have not ruled out paying ransom, then maybe as part of being proactive, read up more on negotiating with threat actors.

Related:

Marchive: RansomChats

Zscaler: ThreatLabz/RansomwareNotes

Tracing Ransomware Threat Actors Through Stylometric Analysis and Chat Log Examination

No related posts.

Category: Commentaries and AnalysesMalware

Post navigation

← Health Data and Investigations: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Real estate markets scramble following cyberattack on listings provider →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Avantic Medical Lab hacked; patient data leaked by Everest Group
  • Integrated Oncology Network victim of phishing attack; multiple locations affected (2)
  • HHS’ Office for Civil Rights Settles HIPAA Privacy and Security Rule Investigation with Deer Oaks Behavioral Health for $225k and a Corrective Action Plan
  • HB1127 Explained: North Dakota’s New InfoSec Requirements for Financial Corporations
  • Credit reports among personal data of 190,000 breached, put for sale on Dark Web; IT vendor fined
  • Five youths arrested on suspicion of phishing
  • Russia Jailed Hacker Who Worked for Ukrainian Intelligence to Launch Cyberattacks on Critical Infrastructure
  • Kentfield Hospital victim of cyberattack by World Leaks, patient data involved
  • India’s Max Financial says hacker accessed customer data from its insurance unit
  • Brazil’s central bank service provider hacked, $140M stolen

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • Google Settles Privacy Class Action Over Period Tracking App
  • ICE Is Searching a Massive Insurance and Medical Bill Database to Find Deportation Targets
  • Franklin, Tennessee Resident Sentenced to 30 Months in Federal Prison on Multiple Cyber Stalking Charges
  • On July 7, Gemini AI will access your WhatsApp and more. Learn how to disable it on Android.
  • German court awards Facebook user €5,000 for data protection violations
  • Record-Breaking $1.55M CCPA Settlement Against Health Information Website Publisher
  • Ninth Circuit Reviews Website Tracking Class Actions and the Reach of California’s Privacy Law

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.