Browsing: Victims

Beyond the immediate headache for consumers impacted by a data breach, new Virginia Tech research has found they can also trigger years of financial repercussions such as mortgage refinancing and home improvement loan denials. Using data from the 2012 South Carolina Department of Revenue breach, Tony Vance, professor of business information technology in the Pamplin College…

A ransomware crew that did not exist on August 4, 2026 had hit 16 companies across 11 countries by early September. Panzer, the group’s self-chosen name, launched a leak site on August 5 and, within roughly a month, built an affiliate network offering cross-platform encryptors for Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, and VMware ESXi. Researchers who track…

Ransomware attacks have evolved significantly over the years. What initially began as a form of malware designed primarily to encrypt files and demand payment for their recovery has now developed into a much more aggressive cyber extortion model. Cyber-criminals are increasingly combining data theft, encryption, and additional extortion tactics to put greater pressure on victims.

Until now, ransomware attacks have primarily been associated with cybercriminals infiltrating the networks of public and private organizations, encrypting critical files, and demanding a ransom in exchange for restoring access to the affected data. In recent years, these attacks have become even more aggressive, with several criminal groups adopting double- and triple-extortion tactics to put…