Fortra’s Nick Oram spoke with The Register about the latest ransomware group, Ox Thief, and its aggressive new tactics. The extortion crew went beyond typical threats, warning victims they would inform figures like Edward Snowden if ransom demands weren’t met. Oram describes this as a significant shift in ransomware tactics, leveraging legal and media consequences to pressure victims.
Originally published in The Register.
Excerpt: "Ox Thief’s' approach marks a concerning evolution in ransomware tactics, leveraging legal liability and media scrutiny to pressure victims into compliance. By explicitly outlining potential fines, class action lawsuits, and government penalties, the group is attempting to reframe the cost-benefit analysis of paying versus resisting extortion.”
