Cybercriminals behind the REvil ransomware, are trying to extort Apple after realizing that Quanta (which was infected with the REvil ransomware), the world’s largest notebook maker and one of Apple’s top automakers, don’t want to pay the ransom.
According to the REvil ransomware operators themselves, Quanta does not want to pay for the rescue of the stolen data, therefore, the group contacted Apple, one of Quanta’s main customers, to pay the ransom instead. If Apple doesn’t pay, the group threatened to publish data and technical details of Apple products not yet released, which were stolen in the attack on Quanta.
In a statement from the REvil group, published on the dark web, cybercriminals have published 21 copies of technical drawings of Apple products and are threatening to publish more each day, until a company pays for the ransom.
“We are going to make available data on the upcoming launches of the company so loved by many. […] Quanta made it clear to us that it does not care about the data of its customers and employees, allowing the publication and sale of all the data we have […] Our team is negotiating the sale of large quantities of confidential files and gigabytes of personal data from several major brands. We recommend that Apple buy back the available data by May 1. More and more files will be added every day, “write the ransomware operators in the aforementioned statement.
According to BleepingComputer, the REvil gang is asking for a $ 50 million ransom (same amount asked for from notebook maker Acer in a recent attack) for payments until April 27 and $ 100 million for payments after that date.
Taiwan-based Quanta Computer is known for working with major customers in the technology market, such as Apple, Alienware, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo, NEC, Sony, Toshiba, Vizio, LG and others.
The REvil ransomware is known for adopting aggressive practices, like charge the highest ransom values in the history of ransomware and leak data if the company refuses to pay for the ransom.
The REvil ransomware has already asked for ransoms from $ 50 million to Acer, $ 25 million to Pierre Fabre, $ 24 million to Astleelflash. Earlier this month, the group made the German smartphone maker, Gigaset (formerly Siemens), of victim.
Sources: BleepingComputer; The Record; The Hack.
