Witcher Studio Becomes Latest Target of Growing Cyber-Ransom Threat

When a single hacker or a group sends ransomware to the world, it affects individuals in devastating manner because their hard drives contain family photos, tax documents and other private credentials locked up. However, when the target is a developer of video game and the hacker directly steals credentials linked to a highly-anticipated new title which general public do not know much about, the stakes become even higher.

CD Project Red disclosed that an individual or a group is trying to hold some of the internal data of studio for ransom. The threat involves older material associated to the development of forthcoming innovative role-playing adventure Cyberpunk 2077, which CD project red first announced in Jan. 2013. The alleged executor is asking for money in lieu of releasing of data to the public. CD Project Red has said that it will not meet their demands and it has notified the law enforcement agency. But the company is also warning fans by saying that any disclosures may come out about Cyberpunk 2077 are "mainly unrepresentative of the present vision of the game."

The attack is not related to ransomware but the final result is necessarily the same in that hackers have the data of the company and are demanding money consequently. Bgr.com posted on June 9th, 2017, stating that certainly, there is no guarantee that executors will not release the information to the public even after receiving the ransom amount and so, the company has sensibly decided to simply tell them "no" and ready to face any consequences which may come up.

The company's letter said: "We will not surrender to the demands of any individual or individuals which have contacted us, which might finally lead to files being published online. The suitable legal authorities will be notified about the situation."

CD Projekt Red added that assets involved for Cyberpunk 2077 are "old and mainly can't be represented" of the present condition of the game but warned that anyone interested in not having the game ruined to avoid looking at them, if they are finally released.

Hopefully, genuine game media will avoid publishing any "leaks" on Cyberpunk 2077, especially if their source asks them for payment.

» SPAMfighter News - 6/13/2017