RansomHub's Target: Harman Realtors, Inc. Under Attack

Incident Date:

April 24, 2024

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Overview

Title

RansomHub's Target: Harman Realtors, Inc. Under Attack

Victim

Harman Realtors, Inc.

Attacker

Ransomhub

Location

La Jolla, USA

California, USA

First Reported

April 24, 2024

Ransomware Attack on Harman Realtors, Inc. by RansomHub

Company Profile

Harman Realtors, Inc., established in 1955, is a family-owned commercial real estate firm based in La Jolla, California. The company specializes in property management, construction management, leasing, and brokerage services for commercial properties across Southern California. Led by Athena Z. Harman, the firm is recognized for handling complex transactions in the real estate sector. Despite its long-standing presence and industry expertise, Harman Realtors, Inc. maintains a relatively small operation with only 11 employees and an annual revenue of approximately $10 million.

Details of the Attack

The ransomware group RansomHub has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Harman Realtors, Inc., announcing the breach on their dark web leak site. According to the group, more than 80GB of sensitive data was exfiltrated, including information from accounting, human resources, sales, and leasing departments. The attackers have made the file tree of the stolen data publicly available, indicating the severity of the breach.

The ransom note suggests that the attackers exploited vulnerabilities in the IT infrastructure managed by CYNC Solutions, the external IT support provider for Harman Realtors, Inc. This breach not only compromised Harman's operations but also potentially affected other companies supported by the same IT provider.

Vulnerabilities and Industry Impact

Harman Realtors, Inc.'s reliance on an external IT provider appears to have been a critical vulnerability that was exploited in this attack. The firm's small size and possibly limited cybersecurity measures might have made it an easier target for the attackers. Moreover, the real estate industry deals with large volumes of sensitive financial and personal information, making firms like Harman Realtors, Inc. attractive targets for cybercriminals looking to leverage stolen data for financial gain.

Sources

Recent Ransomware Attacks

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