The Hunters International ransomware group has expanded its campaign, targeting four new victims across diverse industries and countries. Among the victims is Bradford Health Care, a healthcare institution, marked by the group’s notorious attack pattern. Despite the group’s claims, the targeted organizations’ official websites, including Bradford Health Care, were found to be fully operational, raising doubts about the credibility of Hunters International’s assertions.
The incident involving Bradford Health Care sheds light on the persistent threat posed by the Hunters International ransomware group, known for its repetitive attack methodology. This incident closely aligns with their established pattern, echoing similarities to their previous operations. Notably, a revelation in October uncovered code overlaps between the ransomware used by Hunters International and the once-dominant Hive ransomware, suggesting a strategic decision by the Hive group to transfer its operations and assets to Hunters International, as confirmed by cybersecurity vendor Bitdefender.
As Bradford Health Care becomes a target in this surge of Hunters International ransomware attacks, cybersecurity concerns escalate. The fully functional state of the targeted organizations’ websites raises questions about the authenticity of the group’s claims and emphasizes the need for robust cybersecurity measures to counter the evolving tactics of ransomware groups. The revelations from Bitdefender further underscore the dynamic nature of the cyber threat landscape, requiring vigilant monitoring and proactive defense strategies to mitigate the risks associated with such sophisticated attacks.
