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A New Victim in the Ongoing Ransomware War
In the ever-evolving cyber threat landscape, a new name has appeared on the radar of ransomware monitoring platforms — Groupe Delcourt, a prominent European publishing group, has been listed as a victim by the notorious Hunters ransomware gang. The alert comes from the ThreatMon Threat Intelligence Team, which tracks ransomware campaigns and data leaks on the dark web.
This incident adds to the growing list of companies worldwide falling prey to well-coordinated and increasingly aggressive ransomware groups.
the Incident
- Threat Actor Identified: The ransomware group behind this attack has been identified as “Hunters,” a known cybercriminal organization.
- Victim: Groupe Delcourt, a leading comic and manga publisher based in France.
- Date of Attack Listing: April 6, 2025, at 12:48:36 UTC+3.
- Source: The announcement was made publicly by the ThreatMon Ransomware Monitoring team via X (formerly Twitter).
- Platform Monitoring the Activity: ThreatMon — a specialized end-to-end threat intelligence platform that collects Indicators of Compromise (IOC) and Command-and-Control (C2) data from the dark web and other intelligence sources.
- Context: The “Hunters” ransomware gang has a history of data exfiltration, followed by threats of public leaks if ransom demands are not met.
- No Ransom Amount Revealed Yet: As of now, no details regarding ransom demands or negotiations have surfaced.
- No Confirmation from Groupe Delcourt: The publishing house has not issued a public statement confirming or denying the breach.
- Potential Impact: As a major content publisher, Delcourt may face operational disruptions, data leaks involving authors or financial records, and damage to reputation.
- Cybersecurity Implications: The attack emphasizes the vulnerability of even cultural institutions like publishers, not just tech or financial firms.
- Dark Web Monitoring Importance: The speed with which ThreatMon identified and publicized the attack shows the growing role of dark web monitoring in proactive cybersecurity.
- Increasing Attacks on Creative Industries: The creative sector, particularly publishers, is becoming a soft target due to perceived underinvestment in cybersecurity.
What Undercode Say:
As cybercrime evolves, we’re seeing an expansion of ransomware groups beyond traditional high-value tech or finance targets. Groupe Delcourt, a key player in the European publishing space, joins a growing list of creative-sector organizations caught in the crosshairs.
Who Are the Hunters?
The Hunters ransomware group is relatively lesser-known compared to names like LockBit or BlackCat, but they have been quietly building a reputation for surgical strikes against medium-sized enterprises in sectors considered “low defense priority.” Their strategy includes rapid data extraction, followed by blackmail via leak threats — a tactic designed to avoid prolonged detection and negotiation.
Why Target a Publisher?
At first glance, a comic book and manga publisher might seem like an odd target. But companies like Groupe Delcourt store large volumes of digital intellectual property, author contracts, financial records, and sensitive project pipelines — all of which can be weaponized during a ransom negotiation.
Moreover, cultural companies often underestimate their cyber risk profiles, assuming they are not “lucrative enough” for hackers. This misconception has made them easy prey.
Possible Consequences for Groupe Delcourt
- Reputational Damage: The breach could shake trust among authors, readers, and collaborators.
- Operational Downtime: Publishing schedules might be disrupted if digital assets are encrypted or leaked.
- Financial Risk: Depending on ransom demands, the group may face a significant financial burden or penalties from regulators under data protection laws.
- Legal Repercussions: If personal data of customers or employees was compromised, Delcourt could face GDPR fines or lawsuits.
Cybersecurity Lessons from the Attack
- No Industry Is Safe: Every sector now needs robust cybersecurity planning.
- Dark Web Intelligence is Crucial: Platforms like ThreatMon provide an early-warning advantage, which can sometimes mitigate further damage.
- Need for Cyber Insurance: Organizations, especially those holding valuable IP, must consider ransomware-specific insurance policies.
Undercode’s Perspective
At Undercode, we stress proactive threat intelligence and a deep understanding of adversarial behavior. Threat actors like Hunters leverage public complacency, particularly in traditionally “non-technical” sectors. Publishers, media houses, and creative agencies should invest in endpoint detection, regular backups, and secure cloud environments.
Furthermore, real-time monitoring of the dark web — once a luxury — is now a necessity. We urge companies to collaborate with cybersecurity firms, participate in intelligence-sharing networks, and enforce a zero-trust security architecture.
This incident with Groupe Delcourt is yet another wake-up call.
Fact Checker Results:
- ✅ Threat Actor Verified: Hunters ransomware listing confirmed via ThreatMon X account.
- ✅ Victim Authenticity: Groupe Delcourt is officially listed, though no formal statement from the company has been made.
- ✅ ThreatMon Reliability: Widely recognized in the cybersecurity community for dark web threat detection.
Stay safe, stay informed.
References:
Reported By: https://x.com/TMRansomMon/status/1909124988109471886
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