A ransomware gang is demanding $50 million in privacy coin monero from Acer in order to decrypt its computers. However, the threat is not just confined to Acer computers.
Ransomware gang demands $50 million in privacy coin Monero to decrypt Acer computers
In the past month, Taiwanese computer manufacturer Acer has been the latest victim of a ransomware attack. The attackers have requested $50 million in privacy coin Monero to decrypt its computers.
Acer has refused to pay the ransom. While the company does not have a formal statement about the incident, cybersecurity experts have said that the attackers were able to gain access to Acer’s back office systems.
REvil and Sodinokibi, cyber crime syndicates, are believed to have made the demand. They have set a March 28 deadline for the payment. However, Acer has not confirmed the incident and has not responded to a series of phone calls.
Some analysts believe that the REvil gang may have exploited a Microsoft Exchange server vulnerability to get into Acer’s system. However, this is not the only group that has taken advantage of this.
As of April, Sophos reported that 66% of organizations were affected by ransomware. This is a significant increase from the 45% of companies that reported being infected in 2021.
There are several ways to check whether a gang is using Monero to extort funds from victims. Firstly, you can check the identifier for the currency. Secondly, you can look for evidence of a Monero wallet address. If you can confirm that a wallet address exists, you know that the gang is using Monero.
Cybercriminals claim they have a solution to the problem of encrypting computers
Having your PC recoded is the modern day equivalent of being locked in a vault. Thankfully there are a myriad of third party services specializing in all things IT. One such company has a staff of more than a hundred with the promise of no strings attached. Aside from the security minded crowd, they also happen to be experts in bringing the latest and greatest tech to the table. This includes a hula hoop of a security team, a robust network monitoring and incident response capability and a well-trained army of cyber experts. As a bonus, these companies can be contacted anytime, anywhere. For example, if a critical employee was to be on the road for the day, they could be on their way in the blink of an eye. Keeping your network in tip top shape is no small feat, and they may be able to do it all for you. The best part? These services can be purchased for as little as a single dollar. In the long run, they will be worth the investment.
The threat isn’t just a threat to Acer computers
One of the biggest names in laptops and tablets, Taiwanese manufacturer Acer has been a tad on guard since its acquisition by Lenovo in late 2016. While the company hasn’t made waves for its quality of manufacture, it’s not without cause that Acer is a bit of a shopper in its own right. That’s not to mention its impressive portfolio of tech. This includes its own marquee consumer notebooks, branded and unbranded mobile and mobile accessories and peripherals, and its own proprietary mobile device management solutions. As a company that’s been around since the dawn of the PC age, Acer’s seasoned techies know the ropes. In the wake of a big loss, a full-on reorganization plan is on the way. There are some a few bumps in the works to go along with this, but a solid foundational structure is not a bad thing.
