Authorities in Mumbai are investigating a cyberattack in which hackers infiltrated the server of a Kurla-based advertising agency and demanded a ransom of approximately ₹4.5 lakh (around $5,283) in Bitcoin.
The attackers allegedly stole vital company data and threatened to destroy it permanently if the company did not comply with their demands.
The incident came to light on May 3 when employees at the firm encountered login issues on their internal systems. Upon regaining partial access, the team discovered significant data missing. A third-party cybersecurity firm was brought in to assess the damage and found a text file left by the hackers, detailing the breach and ransom terms.
The attackers claimed responsibility and blamed the breach on weak cybersecurity practices by the firm. They warned that any attempt to recover or tamper with the remaining files could lead to data loss or public leaks. In a bizarre twist, they also offered to advise the company on improving its security post-payment.
Investigators believe the hackers used a brute-force attack—where multiple password combinations are tried until access is gained—to breach the company’s defenses. The central cyber police have filed charges under India’s Information Technology Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including penalties for data tampering, unauthorized access, and extortion.
The investigation is ongoing, and the suspects remain unidentified. The case adds to the growing global trend of crypto-related cybercrimes, highlighting the increasing need for robust digital security protocols.
Kosta Gushterov
Reporter at Coindoo
Kosta has been a part of the team since 2021 and has solidified his position with a thirst for knowledge, incredible dedication to his work and a “detective-like” mindset. He not only covers a wide range of trending topics, he also creates reviews, PR articles and educational content. His work has also been referenced by other news outlets.
Source: https://coindoo.com/mumbai-advertising-firm-hit-by-ransomware-attack-hackers-demand-bitcoin/