The MEDUSA ransomware group has struck again, targeting two major companies of Italian and Canadian origin, Acoustic Center and Landstar Power Ontario Inc. The cybercriminals announced the attack through their dark web portal and imposed tight deadlines for ransom payment, increasing the pressure on the affected organizations.
Acoustic Center, an esteemed Italian company specializing in hearing systems and aids since 1958, is the first victim facing a hefty ransom demand with a 1-day deadline, which escalates to $100,000 after the cutoff time. Landstar Power Ontario Inc., a Canadian enterprise dealing in used batteries and scrap metal, also received a similar demand with a short timeframe.
Despite attempts to verify the situation, neither victim has issued an official response, leaving the claims by the MEDUSA ransomware group unverified. MEDUSA ransomware has been a persistent threat since its emergence in June 2021, operating through the Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model and collaborating with global affiliates.
The group’s distinct approach includes encrypting files with various extensions, including “.MEDUSA,” and it has previously targeted organizations like the Minneapolis Public School District, which faced a similar attack earlier this year. In that case, the group not only encrypted data but also exfiltrated and published it on the internet, posing a serious threat to data security.
