FBI probes ransomware negotiators after ShinyHunters site listed nearly 100 victims
Investigators suspect a U.S. consulting-firm executive helped run Shinywire, while chats allegedly linked negotiators to breach details before victims knew they were compromised.
By Ryan Merket · Published
Primary source: KrebsOnSecurity
Why it matters
Ransomware negotiators can hold sensitive access to a victim's data, plans and ability to pay. The allegations put that trusted intermediary role under scrutiny as investigators examine whether some of those relationships helped attackers run their extortion business.
Federal investigators suspect an executive at a U.S. consulting firm helped operate Shinywire, a ShinyHunters extortion site that listed nearly 100 alleged victims, KrebsOnSecurity reported on October 19th. The inquiry also links executives at two ransomware negotiation firms to the hacking group through messages recovered after Dutch police arrested a suspected ShinyHunters member in September.…
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