Hunters International Ransomware Attack Targets Seamon Whiteside: Key Details
Incident Date:
July 18, 2024
Overview
Title
Hunters International Ransomware Attack Targets Seamon Whiteside: Key Details
Victim
Seamon Whiteside
Attacker
Hunters International
Location
First Reported
July 18, 2024
Ransomware Attack on Seamon Whiteside by Hunters International
Overview of Seamon Whiteside
Seamon Whiteside, officially known as Seamon, Whiteside & Associates, Inc., is a prominent civil engineering and landscape architecture firm based in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Established in 1985, the company has grown to employ over 100 professionals and operates multiple offices across South Carolina and North Carolina, including locations in Charleston, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Charlotte. The firm specializes in the design and construction of residential neighborhoods, commercial developments, and public spaces, emphasizing sustainability and community engagement.
Details of the Ransomware Attack
Seamon Whiteside has recently fallen victim to a ransomware attack orchestrated by the Hunters International Ransomware group. The cybercriminals successfully infiltrated the company's systems, adding Seamon Whiteside to their growing list of targets. The attack was publicly claimed by Hunters International via their dark web leak site, highlighting the persistent threat posed by sophisticated ransomware groups.
About Hunters International
Hunters International is a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group that emerged in Q3 of 2023, shortly after the disruption of the notorious Hive ransomware group. The group exhibits significant technical overlap with Hive, suggesting an evolution or offshoot of the dismantled operation. Hunters International's primary objective is to exfiltrate target data and subsequently extort victims with a ransom demand in exchange for the return of the stolen data. The group has been detected targeting victims across various regions, including the US, UK, Germany, and Namibia.
Potential Vulnerabilities
Seamon Whiteside's commitment to integrating evolving technologies and practices in their design philosophy may have inadvertently exposed them to cyber threats. The firm's extensive use of digital tools and collaborative platforms could have provided entry points for the ransomware group. Additionally, the company's significant size and multiple office locations might have complicated their cybersecurity posture, making it challenging to maintain uniform security measures across all sites.
Implications and Next Steps
The ransomware attack on Seamon Whiteside underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures in the construction and engineering sectors. As ransomware groups like Hunters International continue to evolve and adapt, organizations must remain vigilant and proactive in their cybersecurity efforts to protect sensitive data and maintain operational integrity.
Sources
Recent Ransomware Attacks
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