Bandai Namco reportedly hacked by ransomware group

pcgamer.com:

The Japanese videogame giant Bandai Namco has reportedly become the victim of a ransomware attack by a group that style themselves ALPHV, but is also known by the name BlackCat. The news has been reported by two malware-watching groups, and was first announced by Vx-underground alongside an image from ALPHV's darkweb blog claiming the attack (thanks, Kotaku(opens in new tab)).

ALPHV ransomware group (alternatively referred to as BlackCat ransomware group) claims to have ransomed Bandai Namco.Bandai Namco is an international video game publisher. Bandai Namco video game franchises include Ace Combat, Dark Souls, Dragon Ball*, Soulcaliber, and more. pic.twitter.com/hxZ6N2kSxlJuly 11, 2022

Bandai Namco has not responded to a request for comment. Until the publisher acknowledges the hack or other sources emerge, the story remains unconfirmed. I also contacted the two malware-watching organisations who initially reported the hack, and will update with any additional information.

The group that has apparently targeted Bandai Namco has been known for a while, and some malware researchers believe the contemporary ALPHV is linked to earlier ransomware such as BlackMatter or Noberus(opens in new tab). The BlackCat moniker comes from an image of a black cat on the blog that shows the group's victims.

What we can say is that an attack by ALPHV is seriously bad news for its victim. The group is an FBI target and previously boasted of wanting to create a "ransomware metaverse(opens in new tab)" to The Record. If you wonder what that nightmare phrase might mean, imagine kidnappers-for-hire at the highest of prices. From December 4 2021 BlackCat has been advertised on Russian-language underground markets, per Hacker News(opens in new