International Presence Ltd leaked by Ragnar Locker

• Ransomware group: Ragnar Locker
• Country: United States
• Announcement date: October 6, 2023

Ragnar Locker claims data breach of International Presence Ltd

The threat actor known as Ragnar Locker has announced that it has published data they claim belongs to International Presence Ltd. According to the announcement made on the group's leak site on October 6, 2023, the group has released a total data volume of 8.2 GB.

The threat actor alleges that the publication of this information follows a failure to reach an agreement with the management of International Presence Ltd. Furthermore, the group claims that the company was unwilling to address existing security vulnerabilities. The threat actor asserts that the data was obtained during security research conducted on the International Presence network.

Details of the claimed data leak

While the group has provided a screenshot indicating a total data volume of 8.2 GB, no specific details regarding the nature of the leaked data were provided. The listing does not specify the types of files or the specific categories of information that were allegedly exfiltrated during the incident.

• No specific data types were named in the listing.

This lack of specificity regarding the content of the 8.2 GB of data is common in many ransomware incidents, where the volume of information is disclosed to exert pressure, even if the exact contents remain unverified by the victim.

Implications and risks of the incident

This action by the Ragnar Locker group may pose significant risks to the company's operational continuity and reputation management. As a United States-based entity, the company may face compliance processes under state laws and federal regulations depending on the nature of the leaked data.

The public release of this information could lead to secondary risks such as identity theft or targeted phishing attacks for employees and customers. It is known that Ragnar Locker has historically employed a double extortion method by stealing data before encryption; this situation may lead to scrutiny regarding the company's data privacy policies.

Double extortion is a tactic where ransomware groups not only encrypt a victim's systems to disrupt operations but also exfiltrate sensitive data to use as leverage. By threatening to leak the stolen information on a public leak site, the attackers aim to increase the pressure on the organization to pay the ransom. This method shifts the focus from mere operational disruption to the potential for massive regulatory fines and long-term reputational damage.

To mitigate such risks, organizations typically focus on robust data protection strategies. This includes implementing strict access controls to limit the movement of sensitive data, maintaining comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect unauthorized exfiltration, and ensuring that security vulnerabilities are addressed promptly to prevent initial access. Additionally, maintaining a strong incident response plan and regular backups can help manage the fallout of both encryption and data theft events.