Namibia’s state telecom provider says hackers leaked data after it refused to pay ransom

Namibia’s state-owned telecom supplier confirmed Monday that a few of its prospects’ information was leaked on the darkish internet following a ransomware assault.

Telecom Namibia attributed the assault to a menace actor generally known as Hunters Worldwide. In keeping with the corporate’s chief govt, Stanley Shanapinda, the hackers made the stolen information public after Telecom Namibia had refused to barter with them concerning the potential ransom.

Expensive Valued Buyer and Stakeholder

Telecom Namibia assures its shoppers and stakeholders that it has put measures in place to safeguard confidential and delicate information.

We are going to proceed to share updates on any additional developments as they arrive to gentle. pic.twitter.com/ku7nYautjU

— Telecom Namibia (@TelecomNamibia) December 16, 2024

“We don’t negotiate with cyber terrorists,” Shanapinda mentioned in an interview with native media. “We all know the sums they’re asking for are exorbitant and unaffordable, so there’s no purpose to even contemplate discussing it. And even should you do pay a ransom, there’s no assure the data received’t nonetheless be leaked.”

The corporate didn’t specify what sort of information was stolen by the cybercriminals, however in accordance with native media reviews, the hackers accessed over 400,000 recordsdata, together with private and monetary information belonging to some high-ranking authorities officers and Telecom Namibia’s shoppers.

The corporate mentioned in an announcement that it’s at present analyzing the leaked information and dealing with native legislation enforcement to attenuate any additional publicity and threat to all its prospects.

Among the leaked information has reportedly already been circulating on social media, however Telecom Namibia warned people that it could be a legal offense to share or use it for malicious functions.

The Hunters Worldwide group emerged final October. It operates ransomware-as-a-service and was as soon as believed to be a rebrand of the infamous Hive ransomware operation, which was dismantled by the FBI in January 2023. The group has denied the allegations about this connection, stating that they’re a brand new service within the ransomware scene that bought the encryptor supply code from the Hive builders.

The gang is thought for its assaults on firms within the well being, automotive, manufacturing, logistics, monetary, training and meals industries.

🚨 Ransom group “Hunters Worldwide” publishes Telecom Namibia🇳🇦

Goal: Telecom Namibia, a number one telecommunications https://t.co/qlvSsdg4p0: Mounted-line, cellular, and web options.Headquarters: Windhoek, Namibia.Web site: https://t.co/o19bAe4ayp#Ransomware… pic.twitter.com/ln9UDU8uMR

— Ransom-DB (@Ransom_DB) December 10, 2024

The group’s assault on Telecom Namibia attracted the eye of the nation’s authorities. Namibia’s  President, Nangolo Mbumba, mentioned he considers cybersecurity an important a part of nationwide safety, in accordance with his spokesperson Alfredo Hengari.

“In that vein, any menace to our safety structure, together with cyberattacks, is handled the urgency it deserves,” Hengari mentioned.

Confidential info from the Workplace of the President was reportedly leaked by Hunters Worldwide, though Recorded Future Information couldn’t confirm this declare.

The nation’s safety specialists mentioned that the purchasers affected by the Telecom Namibia breach can’t do a lot, as Namibia’s Knowledge Safety Act, which may impose vital fines and penalties for such information breaches, has not but been enforced. Nevertheless, in some instances, they could possibly be allowed to make claims for damages as a result of negligence in safeguarding information.

Amid the Telecom Namibia incident, one other menace actor claimed to have gained entry to the nation’s Ministry of Well being and Social Companies and focused the Ministry’s pharmaceutical information. These reviews weren’t formally verified.

Study extra.