Malware
Breaking News: Seiko, the Iconic Japanese Watchmaker, Falls Victim to Ruthless BlackCat Ransomware Attack
Japanese watchmaker Seiko has fallen victim to a ransomware attack orchestrated by the notorious BlackCat gang. The cybercriminals infiltrated Seiko’s systems, encrypting sensitive data and demanding a hefty ransom for its release. As the company scrambles to restore operations, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the escalating threat posed by ransomware groups targeting businesses of all sizes.
Seiko Targeted by BlackCat/ALPHV Ransomware Gang
The renowned watchmaker Seiko has fallen victim to a cyberattack by the BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware gang, who have recently claimed responsibility for the incident. This comes after Seiko disclosed the breach earlier this month.
Seiko, a historic watchmaker with a global presence, boasts a workforce of approximately 12,000 employees and generates an annual revenue exceeding $1.6 billion.
On August 10th, 2023, Seiko issued a notice regarding a data breach, revealing that an unauthorized third party had gained access to a portion of its IT infrastructure and had potentially exfiltrated or accessed data.
According to Seiko’s announcement, “[on July 28, 2023] some as-yet-unidentified party or parties gained unauthorized access to at least one of our servers.” In response, Seiko enlisted the help of external cybersecurity experts on August 2nd to investigate and assess the situation.
Seiko expressed regret to potentially affected customers and business partners and advised them to remain vigilant against potential communication attempts impersonating the company.
Is the BlackCat Ransomware Gang Responsible for the Reddit Breach as Well as the Attack on Seiko?
The recent cyberattacks on Reddit and Seiko have raised suspicions about the involvement of the blackcat ransomware gang. With their notorious reputation in the hacking community, the possibility of the blackcat ransomware gang being responsible for these breaches cannot be dismissed. The authorities and cybersecurity experts are diligently investigating the incidents to confirm any ties between the attacks and the blackcat ransomware gang responsible reddit breach.
BlackCat Takes Credit
The BlackCat ransomware group has now proclaimed responsibility for the attack on Seiko. They have even published samples of the data they claim to have stolen during the breach.
The leaked data includes production plans, employee passport scans, new model release plans, specialized lab test results, and confidential technical schematics and Seiko watch designs.
Source: BleepingComputer
This indicates that BlackCat likely possesses detailed internal information about Seiko, including patented technology, which could be detrimental if made public and exposed to competitors and imitators.
BlackCat is a highly sophisticated and notorious ransomware gang that primarily targets businesses. They continuously evolve their extortion tactics, as evidenced by their use of a dedicated clearweb website for leaking victim data and the recent creation of a data leak API, which facilitates the distribution of stolen information.
BleepingComputer reached out to Seiko for additional comments on the claims made by the threat actors, but as of the time of publication, no response has been received.