Corporate Extortion: Google Warns of Ransomware Emails Targeting Executives

Alphabet's Google has issued a warning about a high-volume email campaign in which hackers are targeting executives with extortion demands. The hackers claim they have breached Oracle business applications, stealing sensitive data from the Oracle E-Business Suite. The group responsible is purportedly affiliated with the ransomware gang cl0p, although Google has not provided further details.

Google has expressed caution, stating that it "does not currently have sufficient evidence to definitively assess the veracity of these claims." Oracle has not responded to requests for comment. Cynthia Kaiser from Halcyon's Ransomware Research Center mentioned that extortion demands have ranged from millions to as high as $50 million.

While there's some speculation about the connection to cl0p, Kaiser pointed out that there are often overlaps and copycats among hacker groups. Cl0p, in communication with Reuters, declined to discuss any details at this time.