key takeaways:
- Azimut, the Italian asset manager, confirmed that it experienced a cyber attack on Monday.
- The company asserted that the attack did not compromise any data or information that could potentially grant access to clients’ personal positions
Italian asset management company Azimut Group, responsible for managing a substantial $87.2 billion in assets, has recently been the target of a highly sophisticated cyberattack.
The notorious hacking group BlackCat, also known as ALPHV, made a chilling appearance on the dark web, threatening Azimut with a ransomware demand.
In a public statement released on , Azimut Group made it unequivocally clear that it would not yield to any form of extortion from the hackers. The ransomware group had boasted about their illicit activities, claiming to have obtained a staggering 500 GB of potentially sensitive data from the company.
These alarming details were brought to light through information shared on active ransoms by Ransomware.live, a platform that monitors and reports on ransomware attacks.
“The attack did not affect data or information that might allow access to the personal positions of clients and financial advisors or the execution of unauthorised transactions,” the business said.
In a ransom letter purportedly sent by the hacking group BlackCat, sensitive photos of customer data were included as part of their threat against Azimut, the Italian asset management company.
The hackers further claimed to possess complete financial information about many customers, which encompassed company reports, details on stocks, and records of antique purchases.
The ransom demand was accompanied by a warning that failure to comply would result in the public exposure of this information, coupled with a cautionary reminder that previous interactions with the group had dire consequences.
Despite the menacing threats, Azimut, the asset management firm, stood firm in its decision to reject the attacker’s demands.
The company confidently asserted that all customer data remains secure, and the group had not gained access to any personal or financial information belonging to clients. Additionally, Azimut confirmed that no unauthorized transactions were executed as a result of the cyberattack.
BlackCat, also known as ALPHV, was released in 2021 and is infamous for attacking over 40 affluent companies in the United States and Europe.
Nonetheless, customers are concerned about the recent incident. However, the company has assured users that their information is secure. Although the culprits have not been captured, a thorough investigation has been conducted in order to mitigate the impact of the incident.
