mindware attacks SMD Sandton
Incident Date:
May 5, 2022
Overview
Title
mindware attacks SMD Sandton
Victim
SMD Sandton
Attacker
Mindware
Location
First Reported
May 5, 2022
SMD Sandton Ransomware Attack
SMD Sandton, a company operating in the Business Services sector, has reportedly been targeted by the ransomware group Mindware. The attack was announced on the group's dark web leak site, and the victim's website is https://www.smd.co.za/. The company's size and specific vulnerabilities are not explicitly mentioned in the search results. However, the attack on SMD Sandton is part of a growing trend of ransomware attacks targeting municipalities and businesses around the world.
Company Background
SMD Sandton is a company that operates in the Business Services sector. Their website offers various services, including online daily sales and branch auctions, as well as a platform for selling damaged vehicles. The company's website is designed to facilitate the buying and selling of vehicles, with a focus on damaged and non-runner vehicles.
Vulnerabilities and Impact
Ransomware attacks typically involve the encryption of a victim's data, with attackers demanding payment in exchange for the decryption key. In the case of SMD Sandton, the attack has not been publicly disclosed, and the extent of the damage is not known. However, ransomware attacks can have significant consequences, including data loss, system downtime, and financial costs for remediation.
Legal and Regulatory Considerations
In South Africa, businesses that suffer a ransomware attack are required to report the incident to the Information Regulator and affected data subjects under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). Failure to report a security compromise can result in administrative fines of up to ZAR 10 million or further legal action.
Previous Attacks
The City of Johannesburg, which owns the electricity company City Power, suffered a ransomware attack in 2019, which affected its IT systems and left some residents without power. The attack prevented prepaid customers from buying electricity units and uploading invoices, and it took weeks to restore the affected services.
The ransomware attack on SMD Sandton is a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by cybercriminals to businesses and municipalities. While the specific details of the attack are not available, it is crucial for organizations to implement robust security measures and have backup systems in place to mitigate the impact of such attacks.
Sources
- SMD Sandton Website: https://www.smd.co.za/
- The Hacker News: https://thehackernews.com/2019/07/cyberattack-power-outage.html?m=1
- Norton Rose Fulbright: https://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/en-us/news/287987e5/information-regulator-issues-first-fine-to-the-department-of-justice-after-ransomware-attack
- BBC News: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-49125853
- The SSL Store: https://www.thesslstore.com/blog/cyber-attacks-hit-the-city-of-johannesburg-and-south-african-banks/
- CSHub: https://www.cshub.com/attacks/articles/city-of-johannesburg-announces-second-ransomware-attack-in-recent-months
Recent Ransomware Attacks
The Recent Ransomware Attacks (RRA) site acts as a watchtower, providing you with near real-time ransomware tracking of attacks, groups and their victims. Given threat actors’ overarching, lucrative success so far, ransomware attacks have become the most ubiquitous, and financially and informationally impactful cyber threat to businesses and organizations today.
The site’s data is generated based on hosting choices of real-world threat actors, and a handful of other trackers. While sanitization efforts have been taken, we cannot guarantee 100% accuracy of the data. Attack updates will be made as source data is reported by reputable sources. By viewing, accessing, or using RRA you acknowledge you are doing so at your own risk.