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Cybercrime syndicate “Hunters International” claims to have “Top Secret” files they exfiltrated from the U.S. Marshals Service. They’re threatening to release the data, unless a ransom gets paid, and shared screen shots of it. The countdown timer they set on a dark web bulletin board is due to hit zero any time now. It had two days on it when first reported.
Top Secret files threatened
The hackers claim to have 386 GB of data in total, “made up of 327,268 files.” Many of them classified and labeled Top Secret or Confidential.
The screenshots provided “suggest the leak includes dossiers on gang members and their mugshots.” Some of the paperwork originated with the FBI.
Reporters who got a good look at the offerings note “one such top secret document appears to be a report from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Group.” It probably names a few of their rats.
🚨🚨🚨 #CyberAttack #Alert 🚨🚨🚨
🇺🇸USA – United States Marshals Service
The hacking group Hunters International claims to have breached the United States Marshals Service.
Allegedly, 386 GB (327,268 files) of data were exfiltrated, including gang files, confidential and… pic.twitter.com/Gl6upKdcdX
— HackManac (@H4ckManac) August 26, 2024
Inside those files is a document “listed as a white paper on Instagram from the National Domestic Communications Assistance Center.” If you’ve never heard of them, they’re “a hub containing collective technical knowledge and resources of law enforcement.”
“Operation Turnbuckle” appears to figure prominently in the sample files. “Screenshots reference electronic surveillance, ongoing cases, and documents.” That sting is over and resulted in “the takedown of alleged drug traffickers in 2022.” It will be interesting to see if “Operation OutTruck” is listed.
The ones sitting behind bars now would love to read those reports. Especially the wire tap transcripts. There are a lot of very nervous federal informants wondering if the Marshals will pay the ransom.
Aware of the posting
Gizmodo broke the story, reporting that another top-secret document “appears to be a report from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Group.” That’s more juicy reading for underworld crime figures.
The outlet gave the Marshals Service a jingle to talk about the threatened files. A spokesperson confirmed they are “aware of the posting but had yet to confirm its authenticity.” It’s probably real.
The good news, the service adds, is that the threat posting “does not indicate that the criminal organization encrypted any files.” As far as the Marshals can tell, they still have access to everything.
The U.S. Marshals Service denies claims by the Hunters International ransomware gang of a breach, stating that the posted materials don't appear to stem from any new incident. 🛡️🚔#CyberSecurity #Ransomwarehttps://t.co/l9WcmL7XgU
— Cyber News Live (@cybernewslive) August 27, 2024
Instead, the hackers are “seeking a ransom from the government entity in order to not leak or sell the data.” If the real deal, it’s worth a bundle.
Back in February of 2023, the Marshals Service “suffered a separate ransomware attack.” The spokesperson relates “it’s unclear if the data taken during that breach is the source of the files now being listed by Hunters International.”
One thing is certain, it’s the kind of information that criminals around the world would love to get their hands on.
