Hong Kong tech hub Cyberport alerts police, privacy watchdog after reports of ransomware attack exposing 400GB of data
- Social media report claims ransomware group Trigona has targeted Cyberport
- Cyberport says it has shut down affected computer equipment and conducted investigation with cybersecurity experts
Tech hub Cyberport has alerted police and Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog about a cybersecurity breach, with a ransomware group reportedly claiming it has gained access to more than 400GB of its data and wants US$300,000 to return it.
The data, including bank account information and soft copies of ID cards, was also being offered to other parties who could bid for access, with a reserve price set at US$300,000, an IT expert said on Thursday after examining the material on the dark web, a hidden corner of the internet.
“If 1GB refers to one person, there are at least 400 victims,” said Anthony Lai Cheuk-tung, a malware analyst and security incident responder at Hong Kong-based cybersecurity firm VX Research.
The business park has 140 employees and is a base for 1,900 start-ups and tech companies.
Police said they had passed the case to their cybersecurity and technology crime bureau for investigation, and that no arrests had been made so far.
Without naming a possible culprit, Cyberport on Wednesday issued a statement condemning an attack by an unauthorised third party which had infiltrated part of its computer system. It also said it had taken swift action after discovering the intrusion.