The REvil ransomware gang has found a new target. BleepingComputer and Bloomberg reports that the group is threatening Apple after one of the tech giant’s main MacBook vendors, Quanta, reportedly refused to pay a $ 50 million ransom after hacking into its systems. The attackers announced their efforts alongside Apple’s spring event after Quanta reportedly indicated it would not pay by the April 27 deadline, and leaked what appeared to be component schematics for a March MacBook design.
REvil said it would increase demand for $ 100 million if Quanta failed to pay by the stated date. It claimed to have “all the local network data” from the contract manufacturer, although it is not clear how much it actually has.
In a statement to BloombergQuanta acknowledged hackers targeting a “small number” of servers and said it had been in contact with data protection agencies and law enforcement. The company added that there was “no material impact” on the company, although it did not say whether it intended to pay the ransom. Apple declined to comment.
The hacking team targeted the Travelex money transfer service in early 2020 and recently attempted to extort $ 50 million from Acer in a similar ransomware campaign. It also attacked companies such as Asteelflash and Pierre Fabre for smaller amounts, with a maximum of “only” $ 25 million. The high demands could be a negotiating tactic, researchers said BleepingComputer – REvil can still walk away with massive amounts if it agrees to a lower payout.
Whether Apple and Quanta acknowledge it or not, the incident illustrates the growing ambitions of ransomware groups. In addition to high profile companies, they have held city governments for ransom and otherwise left organizations to pay millions or risk significant damage. Do not expect the perpetrators to be caught anytime soon. In addition to hiding their tracks (like operating on the dark web), they often operate in Russia (like REvil does) or other countries that don’t always crack down on hackers targeting foreign entities.
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