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User Privacy
Cyber Attacks MathWorks MATLAB Ransomware attack User Privacy

MathWorks Hit by Ransomware Attack Affecting Over 5 Million Clients

 

The renowned MATLAB programming language and numeric computing environment's developer has reported a ransomware attack on its IT systems. 

MathWorks, based in Massachusetts, sent an update to users after initially reporting issues on May 18, stating that the company had been hit by a ransomware attack that shut down online services and internal systems used by employees. 

“We have notified federal law enforcement of this matter,” the company noted. “We have brought many of these systems back online and are continuing to bring other systems back online with the assistance of cybersecurity experts.” 

MathWorks has millions of users, including engineers and scientists who use MATLAB for data analysis, calculation, and other purposes. MATLAB and other MathWorks products are utilised by nearly 6,500 colleges and universities, according to the company.

The firm has 6,500 employees and over 30 offices in Europe, Asia, and North America. This issue affected several MATLAB services as well as parts of the MathWorks website, such as the job page, cloud centre, store, and file exchange. MATLAB Online and MATLAB Mobile were restored on Friday.

MathWorks stated in a Tuesday update that the issue was still being investigated. Several pages on the MathWorks website are still offline. The firm did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Verizon's comprehensive data breach report released last month revealed that ransomware was utilised in nearly half of the 12,195 confirmed data breaches in 2024. The researchers discovered that 64% of ransomware victims did not pay the ransoms, up from 50% two years ago, and the typical amount paid to ransomware groups has dropped to $115,000 (down from $150,000 last year). 

“This could be partially responsible for the declining ransom amounts. Ransomware is also disproportionately affecting small organizations,” the researchers noted. “In larger organizations, ransomware is a component of 39% of breaches, while small and medium-sized businesses experienced ransomware-related breaches to the tune of 88% overall.” 

The number of large ransoms paid has also reduced, with Verizon estimating that 95% of ransoms paid will be less than $3 million by 2024. That value is a significant increase above the $9.9 million recorded in 2023.
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Ransomware attack
Cyber Attacks Cyberattack elective procedures Interlock gang Kettering Health Ohio hospitals Ransomware attack

Ransomware Attack Disrupts Kettering Health Network, Elective Procedures Canceled Across 14 Ohio Facilities

 

A ransomware incident has caused a significant “system-wide technology outage” at a network of over a dozen medical centers in Ohio, resulting in the cancellation of both inpatient and outpatient elective procedures. This information comes from a statement released by the health system and a ransom note obtained by CNN.

Kettering Health, which serves a substantial portion of Ohio and employs more than 1,800 physicians, confirmed in a statement that the cyberattack began Tuesday morning and has created “a number of challenges” across its 14 facilities. The disruption has also affected the network’s call center. Despite this, emergency rooms and outpatient clinics remain operational and continue to treat patients.

“Inpatient and outpatient procedures have been canceled for today,” the network said in its statement. “Scheduled procedures at Kettering Health medical centers will be rescheduled.” It added that contingency protocols are in place “for these types of situations” to maintain safe and high-quality patient care.

Internally, Kettering Health's IT teams and executives are working to limit the damage from the ransomware attack. According to the ransom note reviewed by CNN, hackers deployed ransomware on the network’s computer systems.

“Your network was compromised, and we have secured your most vital files,” the note reads. It warns that the attackers may release allegedly stolen data online unless negotiations for a ransom payment begin.

The note includes a link to an extortion platform tied to the ransomware group known as Interlock, which surfaced in late 2023. Since then, the group has reportedly targeted various sectors including technology, manufacturing, and government organizations, as per Cisco’s cyber-intelligence division, Talos.

A spokesperson for Kettering Health did not offer additional details beyond the network’s official statement.

Typically, major cyber incidents affecting U.S. healthcare providers involve responses from the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). CNN has reached out to all three agencies for comment.

Cybercriminals have long targeted the U.S. healthcare sector, viewing hospitals as particularly vulnerable and likely to pay ransoms to prevent disruptions in patient care. Last year, healthcare organizations reported more than 440 ransomware incidents and data breaches to the FBI—more than any other critical infrastructure sector.

In the past 18 months, a string of high-profile cyberattacks on major health providers has directly affected patient care nationwide, prompting growing concern among lawmakers and federal authorities about the resilience of U.S. healthcare cybersecurity systems.

One such attack last year on Ascension, a nonprofit health system based in St. Louis with operations across 19 states, left nurses at some hospitals working without access to electronic health records, compromising patient safety, according to what two nurses told CNN. Similarly, a February 2024 ransomware attack on a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary disrupted pharmacy services across the country and exposed sensitive data belonging to a large number of Americans.
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UK
Cyber Attacks Logistics Firm Peter Green Chilled Ransomware attack UK

British supermarkets' Supplier of Refrigerated Goods Hit by a Ransomware Attack

 

Peter Green Chilled, a logistics firm, has announced that it has been attacked by a ransomware attack, interrupting deliveries of refrigerated goods to some of the country's top supermarkets.

Customers — largely smaller producers who provide food to regional stores in Somerset, such as Aldi, Tesco, and Sainsbury's — received an email last Thursday informing them that the company will be unable to complete part of their orders owing to the cyber incident.

Peter Green Chilled told the BBC that the attack occurred last Wednesday and had no effect on the company's transport business, but he declined to elaborate on how the incident affected the IT infrastructure via which orders are placed. 

A substantial part of the nation's frozen food is transported by Reed Boardall, a cold storage and refrigerated transport company that was attacked a number of years ago. Some of its customers have warned that they would be spoilt if they couldn't get their products delivered to retailers in time, despite the fact that Peter Green Chilled is a far smaller supplier than Reed Boardall.

After incidents involving Marks & Spencer, the Co-op, and the upscale London retailer Harrods, this attack is the most recent to affect the British retail industry. A string of recent attacks, including one revealed last week that could expose the personal information of domestic violence victims to their abusers, has prompted renewed calls for the British government to adopt a more active response to the ransomware threat. 

Law enforcement agencies should hack the criminals' systems and take them down as the "ideal response" to ransomware gangs' attempts at data extortion, in which the gangs steal data and threaten to release it unless a certain amount of money is paid in cryptocurrency, according to Gareth Mott, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute think tank.

It was not an easy task, Mott said. Even though the National Crime Agency and its allies had been successful in combating ransomware organisations such as LockBit, Mott stated that he was unsure if they currently have the ability to eliminate the most risky data breaches on a selective basis.
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SentinelOne
Babuk Babuk Ransomware critical vulnerabilities Cyber Security cybercriminals EDR Ransomware attack Ransomwares SentinelOne

SentinelOne EDR Exploit Allows Babuk Ransomware Deployment Through Installer Abuse

 

A newly discovered exploit has revealed a critical vulnerability in SentinelOne’s endpoint detection and response (EDR) system, allowing cybercriminals to bypass its tamper protection and deploy the Babuk ransomware. The method, identified as a “Bring Your Own Installer” technique, was uncovered by John Ailes and Tim Mashni from Aon’s Stroz Friedberg Incident Response team during a real-world ransomware case investigation. 


The core issue lies in how the SentinelOne agent handles updates. When an agent is upgraded, the existing version is momentarily stopped to make way for the new one. Threat actors have figured out how to exploit this transition window by launching a legitimate SentinelOne installer and then terminating it mid-process. This action disables the EDR protection temporarily, leaving the system vulnerable long enough to install ransomware or execute malicious operations without being detected.  

Unlike traditional bypasses that rely on third-party drivers or hacking tools, this method takes advantage of SentinelOne’s own software. Once the process is interrupted, the system loses its protection, allowing the attackers to act with impunity. Ailes stressed that the bypass can be triggered using both older and newer agent versions, putting even up-to-date deployments at risk if specific configuration settings are not enabled. During their investigation, the team observed how the targeted device disappeared from the SentinelOne management console shortly after the exploit was executed, signaling that the endpoint had become unmonitored. 

The attack was effective across multiple versions of the software, indicating that the exploit isn’t tied to a particular release. To mitigate this risk, SentinelOne recommends activating a feature called “Online Authorization” (also referred to as Local Upgrade Authorization). This setting ensures that any attempt to upgrade, downgrade, or uninstall the agent must first be approved via the SentinelOne management console. 

Although this option exists, it is not enabled by default for existing customers, largely to maintain compatibility with deployment tools like Microsoft’s System Center Configuration Manager. Since the vulnerability was disclosed, SentinelOne has taken steps to notify customers and is now enabling the protective setting by default for new installations. 

The company also confirmed sharing the findings with other major EDR providers, recognizing that similar techniques could potentially impact their platforms as well. While the current exploit does not affect SentinelOne when configured correctly, the case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of security hardening, particularly in the tools meant to defend against sophisticated threats.
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Ransomwares
Cyber Attacks data security Data Theft Hacker attack Pharmaceutical Firms Ransom Demand Ransomware attack Ransomwares

Pune-Based Biopharma Company Hit by Ransomware Attack, Hackers Demand $80,000

 

A multinational biopharmaceutical company based in Pune has fallen victim to a sophisticated ransomware attack, with cybercriminals encrypting vital data and demanding $80,000 (over Rs 68 lakh) for its release. The attackers have also threatened to leak the stolen proprietary data on the dark web if the ransom is not paid, according to local police authorities. 

The incident came to light when a senior executive from the company’s Pune office lodged a complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station of Pimpri Chinchwad on Monday evening. The attack was first identified on Sunday afternoon, prompting immediate concern due to the sensitivity of the data involved. According to initial investigations by cybercrime officials, the breach is believed to have occurred through a compromised endpoint device—most likely via a phishing email containing a malicious link. 

Once the attackers gained access to the internal network, they deployed ransomware to the company’s main server and extended it to more than a dozen connected servers. Sensitive data, including proprietary pharmaceutical formulations, manufacturing protocols, and confidential business documents, was then encrypted and locked. 

“A preliminary probe suggests that vulnerabilities in the company’s cybersecurity setup allowed the attackers to infiltrate its systems,” an officer from the Cyber Police Station said. “Unfortunately, a significant portion of the critical data was not backed up offline, leaving the organization exposed to potential data loss if the ransom is not paid.” The hackers have made it clear that if their ransom demand of $80,000 is not met, the stolen data will be sold on the dark web. 

So far, the company has not paid the ransom, and authorities are currently analyzing IP logs and other digital evidence to trace the origin of the attack. Cybercrime investigators have urged all businesses to strengthen their cybersecurity measures, including regularly backing up data offline, updating firewall configurations, and educating employees about phishing threats. “This incident is a wake-up call for organizations to prioritize robust digital security,” the officer added.  

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sandeep Doiphode emphasized the growing need for enterprises to invest in both technology and skilled cybersecurity personnel. “This case underlines the urgent necessity for companies to stay ahead of evolving threats through both infrastructure and human resource development,” he said. Police also noted that ransomware attacks typically use phishing emails and exploit weak security protocols. Payments are often demanded in cryptocurrency, making the attackers harder to trace. 

The investigation remains ongoing.
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Rhysida ransomware gang
Data Breach Data Leak Extortion Ransomware attack Ransomware group Ransomwares Rhysida Rhysida Ransomware Rhysida ransomware gang

Rhysida Ransomware Group Leaks 1.3M Files Stolen from Oregon DEQ After Failed Extortion Attempt

 

A major ransomware breach has rocked the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), with over 1.3 million files—amounting to 2.4 terabytes—dumped online by the cybercriminal group Rhysida. The stolen data, now circulating on the dark web, reportedly includes confidential information linked to DEQ employees. Whether personal data of Oregon residents outside the agency was compromised remains unconfirmed. DEQ first disclosed system disruptions on April 9, attributing them to a suspected cyberattack. 

The agency, responsible for regulating pollution, waste, air quality, and smog checks for vehicle registrations, had to suspend several core services as a result. An investigation into the breach is underway, but DEQ has not officially confirmed the volume or content of the compromised data. However, Rhysida’s own dark web site claimed responsibility, stating that it attempted to contact DEQ but was ignored. The group then released the data publicly, writing: “They think their data hasn’t been stolen. They’re sorely mistaken.” Before the leak, the group had placed a $2.5 million price tag—30 Bitcoins—on the files, offering them at auction to the highest bidder. 

By April 24, some of the stolen content had reportedly been sold, while the remaining files were made freely available for download. The breach has had serious operational consequences. For nearly a week following the attack, DEQ employees were locked out of their internal systems and email. Emails sent between April 9 and 11 were lost entirely. Vehicle emissions testing—a requirement for registrations in parts of Oregon—was halted across all non-DEQ testing locations, though some services resumed at DEQ-owned facilities on April 14. In a statement issued April 19, DEQ confirmed that employees were gradually regaining access to their work devices, moving from phones back to laptops. 

Despite the cyber disruption, spokesperson Lauren Wirtis said DEQ’s mission-critical services via its online platform DEQ Online remained operational and unaffected. Rhysida, an increasingly active ransomware gang, has previously attacked global organizations including the British Library, Chilean Army, and the Port of Seattle. Their tactics typically include data theft, extortion, and high-pressure ransom demands. 

Oregon’s Enterprise Information Services is leading the forensic investigation, alongside efforts to strengthen state cybersecurity systems. As of April 26, DEQ clarified that no ransom negotiations had occurred, and the timeline for completing the investigation remains uncertain.
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Ransomwares
Cyber Attacks cybercrime group cybercriminals data security Data Theft DOGE Dogecoin Elon Musk Ransom Demand Ransomware attack Ransomwares

Cybercriminals Behind DOGE Big Balls Ransomware Demand $1 Trillion, Troll Elon Musk

 

A cybercrime group notorious for its outrageous tactics has resurfaced with a ransomware attack demanding an unbelievable $1 trillion from its victims. The group, responsible for the DOGE Big Balls ransomware campaign, has updated its ransom demands with bizarre references to Elon Musk and the Dogecoin meme culture, blending humor with a highly dangerous threat.  

According to a report by Trend Micro researchers Nathaniel Morales and Sarah Pearl Camiling, the attackers are leveraging a modified form of the FOG ransomware to carry out these intrusions. The malware exploits a long-known Windows vulnerability (CVE-2015-2291) through a multi-step PowerShell script that allows deep access into infected systems. Delivered via deceptive shortcut files inside ZIP folders, the malware initiates a chain reaction to execute its payload. Though the ransom note may appear comical—mocking Musk’s past corporate directives and making false claims about stealing “trilatitude and trilongitude” coordinates—the security community warns against taking this threat lightly. 

The ransomware performs environment checks to avoid detection, analyzing machine specs, RAM, and registry entries to detect if it’s being run in a sandbox. If any signs of monitoring are detected, the malware will exit silently. The FBI, in its April 2025 Internet Crime Report, highlighted ransomware—particularly FOG variants—as a dominant threat, impacting critical infrastructure and organizations across the U.S. The report revealed over 100 known FOG ransomware infections between January and March 2025, making it the most reported strain of the year thus far. Beyond encryption, the malware also exfiltrates sensitive data and pressures victims to communicate via the Tor network for instructions. 

The attackers claim stolen files and urge victims not to involve law enforcement, adding a “don’t snitch now” line in their taunting ransom message. Despite its absurd tone, security leaders emphasize the seriousness of the attack. Dr. Ilia Kolochenko, CEO of ImmuniWeb, cautions that many victims discreetly pay ransoms to groups known for not leaking data—urging companies to seek legal and cybersecurity advice before making decisions. 

Although the group hides behind memes and internet jokes, their ability to cause significant operational and financial disruption is very real. Their humor might distract, but the threat demands urgent attention.
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User Security
Cyber Attacks DOGE Fog Hackers Ransomware attack User Security

'Fog' Attackers Mock Victims With DOGE Ransom Notes

 

Fog ransomware assaults over the last month have included a new ransom note mentioning the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and enticing victims to propagate the malware to other PCs, Trend Micro said earlier this week. 

Analysis of the latest samples of Fog ransomware, which were published to VirusTotal between March 27 and April 2, 2025, found that they propagated via the transfer of a ZIP file containing an LNK file disguised as a PDF called "Pay Adjustment." This shows that attacks were carried out via phishing emails to employees.

Once the "Pay Adjustment" LNK file is clicked, a PowerShell script named stage1.ps1 is executed, which retrieves multiple payloads from a hacker-controlled domain. These include the ransomware loader cwiper.exe, a bring-your-own-vulnerable-driver (BYOVD) privilege escalation tool named Ktool.exe, a QR code image directing to a Monero wallet, a ransom letter called RANSOMNOTE.txt, and more malicious PowerShell scripts. 

Ktool.exe extracts the vulnerable Intel Network Adapter Diagnostic Driver iQVW64.sys to the %TEMP% folder, passing the target process ID (PID) and a hardcoded key as arguments. Lootsubmit.ps1 and Trackerjacker.ps1 are PowerShell scripts that collect and exfiltrate system information such IP addresses, CPU configurations, MAC addresses, and system geolocations. 

Before dropping the Fog ransomware, the ransomware loader checks to ensure it is not in a sandbox environment. It also drops dbgLog.sys, which tracks encryption-related activities, and readme.txt, an additional ransom note. This ransom note is identical to those found in past Fog ransomware assaults. 

Odd political references

While the final ransom note, readme.txt, is identical to prior attacks, the initial ransom note, RANSOMNOTE.txt, refers to DOGE and includes the names of specific individuals involved with the department. 

The note reads, "Give me five bullet points on what you accomplished for work last week," and refers to emails sent to federal employees in February as part of a DOGE campaign. The note further offers to decrypt the user's data for free if they deliver the malicious files to another person or manually execute the malicious PowerShell commands on someone else's PC. 

Earlier this year, the DoNex ransomware group followed a similar tactic, promising payment to targets in exchange for sharing sensitive company data or spreading the malware throughout their organisation. The PowerShell script also contains bizarre political references, such as the statement "The CIA didn't kill Kennedy, you idiot." The script also launched several politically orientated YouTube videos, including an episode of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.”
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