Suspected ransomware attack threatens one of South Korea’s largest companies
TL;DR
Kyowon Group, a major South Korean education and lifestyle company, shut down parts of its network due to a suspected ransomware attack, with hackers demanding extortion and potential data leaks affecting millions, including children's personal information.
Source: The Record
Kyowon Group, one of South Korea’s largest education and lifestyle companies, announced shutting down key parts of its internal computer network this past weekend following what it described as a suspected ransomware attack. The hackers behind the attack have issued Kyowon with an extortion demand, reported The Asia Business Daily. There are concerns that a data breach at the company could impact several million individuals, with data including the names and addresses of children who use its educational services, as reported by Chosun. The conglomerate, owned by Chang Pyung-soon, one of South Korea’s richest people, said it has “confirmed indications that some data may have been leaked externally due to a ransomware attack.” Since the shutdown, several websites for its affiliate businesses — including its education and travel subsidiaries — have been left inaccessible as the company says it is working to securely restore systems. Full Story