Hoya Corporation, a prominent optics company based in Japan, recently fell victim to a cyberattack orchestrated by the 'Hunters International' ransomware group, which has demanded a hefty $10 million ransom for a decryptor key and to prevent the release of allegedly stolen files.
The attack, which has disrupted production and order processing across several divisions, prompted Hoya to disclose the incident last week. The company is investigating potential unauthorized access to sensitive data within its systems, although the extent of data theft is still being determined.
According to reports from LeMagIT and independently confirmed by BleepingComputer, Hunters International claims to have obtained 1.7 million files totaling 2 terabytes of data from Hoya. The ransomware group has imposed a strict "No Negotiation / No Discount Policy" on Hoya, suggesting that the $10 million demand is non-negotiable.
Despite the ransom demand, no files have been publicly released by Hunters International, and the group has not officially claimed responsibility for the attack.
Hoya has yet to provide updates on its operational status since April 4, 2024, implying that production remains affected while recovery efforts are ongoing. BleepingComputer reached out to Hoya for comment on the situation but has not received a response as of now.
Hunters International, a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) entity established in mid-2023, shares encryption code similarities with the Hive ransomware, suggesting a potential rebranding. However, Hunters International denies any connection with the Hive group, claiming to have acquired the software and website from a now-defunct ransomware entity.
Known for its indiscriminate targeting across various industries, Hunters International has targeted hospitals and even patients, issuing extortion demands ranging from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars.
The situation underscores the growing threat of ransomware attacks and the challenges faced by organizations in defending against sophisticated cyber threats.
