Hunters International attacks Tiete Automobile
Incident Date:
February 17, 2024
Overview
Title
Hunters International attacks Tiete Automobile
Victim
Tiete Automobile
Attacker
Hunters International
Location
First Reported
February 17, 2024
Ransomware Group Targets Brazilian Company
Ransomware group Hunters International has allegedly attacked Tiete Automobile. Tiete Automobile is a company in Brazil with a revenue of $26.2M and 81 employees. It is a premium VW truck and bus dealership catering to serve the automotive segment. The company offers new and reused buses and cars as well as accessories and parts and financing.
Hunters International's Emergence
Hunters International, a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group, emerged in Q3 of 2023 after the discovery of source code bearing resemblances to the infamous Hive ransomware strain. In October 2023, a security researcher's analysis of the ransomware used by Hunters revealed significant code overlaps with Hive ransomware. Subsequent analysis by Bitdefender came to the same findings, leading researchers to conclude that Hive operators have handed off their malicious tool to another threat actor. Despite this, Hunters International has denied any ties to the Hive operation.
Modus Operandi
Intelligence suggests that Hunters International ransomware primarily aims to exfiltrate target data and extort victims with ransom demands for its return. One reported incident involved a plastic surgery clinic in the US, where approximately 248,000 files, including patient names and addresses, were exfiltrated. The ransomware encrypts files with the ".LOCKED" extension and leaves "Contact Us.txt" files in directories, instructing victims on how to initiate negotiation on the dark web. Successful exploitation by Hunters International typically results in significant data exfiltration prior to issuing a ransom demand, often tailored to the perceived value of the compromised organization.
Recent Ransomware Attacks
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