RTV Noord Hack: private Data stolen in non-Targeted Attack
Groningen, Netherlands – Private information belonging to employees of regional broadcaster RTV Noord was stolen during a ransomware attack last week, the organization confirmed today. Forensic analysis indicates the hack was not a targeted operation,but rather part of a global campaign by criminals encrypting systems and demanding ransom from random organizations.
The attack, discovered last Thursday, disrupted broadcasts and publications across all RTV Noord platforms. While systems are now operational,with or without choice solutions,the broadcaster has refused to pay the ransom,citing concerns that payment does not guarantee the stolen data won’t appear on the dark web.Employees whose data was compromised have been notified, as the stolen information could be used for targeted phishing attempts.
According to RTV Noord, the attack was not the result of an employee falling victim to a phishing scam. The criminals are threatening to publish the private data if their demands are not met. “as a public organization, the broadcaster does not want to pay money to criminals,” RTV Noord stated.
The incident is described as a “time-consuming operation” expected to continue for some time as the broadcaster works to fully restore systems and mitigate potential damage.