One of the biggest names in the Malaysian media industry, Media Prima Farhan has been attacked by a ransomware. According to the latest reports, cybercriminals manage to inflict damage on the company encrypting its files and making them inaccessible for company’s staff. Millions of ringgit has been demanded as ransom in exchange for ransomware removal.
The company is widely known for running different entertainment and news mediums including radio, TV, newspapers as well as being involved in the Malaysian digital media space.
For those who are not aware, ransomware is a deadly cyberthreat that carries a number of malicious components which control the victim’s PC and lock it down. For return of access and provision of ransomware removal services, cybercriminals who are behind such types of attack quote figures for ransom. Most of the time, the ransom amount is demanded in the form of bitcoins.
In the Media Prima attack, the ransom amount has been reported to be 1,000 bitcoins. This means that the demand is equal to 26.42 million ringgits or 6.2 million USD. Some reporters reached Datuk Kamal Khalid—the managing director of Media Prima group—for comments. However, Khalid offered no comments on the confirmation of the attack. Some cybersecurity analysts believe that Khalid’s silence is itself an admission.
Reports suggest that the email servers of the company have been disrupted in the aftermath of the attack. To mitigate this concern, the organization initiated the migration of its email systems to another system. So far, the management at Media Prima has refused to comply with the demands of the cybercriminals and does not plan to pay ransom. If the company does decide to pay, then it can be one of the biggest pay-outs in the ransomware history. Sadly, such an occurrence may only provide a further boost to the already burgeoning cybercriminal industry.
