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In a recent development, a Russian-speaking cybercrime group, Qilin, has claimed responsibility for a cyberattack that impacted Lee Enterprises, one of the largest newspaper chains in the United States. The breach, which occurred in early February, caused a significant outage that affected the operations of Lee Enterprises, including its major publications like The Buffalo News, Omaha World-Herald, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Despite the groupâs history of using ransomware to extort victims, Qilin did not demand a ransom, but instead threatened to leak stolen data, potentially exposing sensitive corporate and financial information.
the Incident
In early February 2025, Lee Enterprises, a major U.S. newspaper conglomerate, suffered a severe cyberattack that led to an outage affecting its operations. The company disclosed the breach in an SEC filing but did not immediately know the full extent of the data compromised. Qilin, a cybercrime group with a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model, claimed responsibility for the attack and revealed that it had stolen around 350GB of data from the company.
This stolen data allegedly includes sensitive information such as financial records, payments to journalists, and insider strategies used by Lee Enterprises. The group published proof of the attack on its Tor leak site, including ID scans, corporate documents, and spreadsheets. While the group has threatened to release the stolen information on March 5, 2025, there is no mention of a ransom demand, which is unusual for cybercrime groups that usually operate under a double-extortion RaaS model.
Lee Enterprises has confirmed awareness of the cyberattack but is still investigating the incident. The groupâs message on its leak site hinted at revealing compromising details regarding the companyâs financial dealings and strategies, particularly around how the company presents itself to local audiences and handles its digital marketing efforts.
What Undercode Says:
Qilinâs actions in this breach appear to be part of a broader trend in cybercrime groups shifting away from traditional ransom demands in favor of public exposure. The groupâs claim to have stolen 350GB of data, which includes a broad range of corporate documents, is not just about causing financial harm but about extracting reputational damage. The threat of leaking sensitive internal communications, financial dealings, and even payments to journalists, could cause long-term harm to Lee Enterprises, particularly as the public is increasingly concerned about media transparency and corporate ethics.
Itâs also notable that Qilin is not following the standard ransomware playbook. Normally, ransomware groups demand a ransom payment to decrypt stolen data or prevent the public release of the data. In this case, Qilin seems to have opted for pure exposure, potentially to pressure Lee Enterprises into responding without a financial negotiation. This behavior reflects a growing trend among cybercriminals who use leaks as a form of extortion, bypassing the typical financial transaction and opting instead to damage the companyâs public image and brand reputation.
Moreover, Qilinâs approach to offering “proof” of their breach with documents such as ID scans, internal memos, and spreadsheets speaks volumes about how cybercriminals are increasingly targeting sensitive operational details within large corporations. These types of documents, which could reveal financial dealings, journalistic payments, and insider information, offer an enormous leverage point. This could severely damage Lee Enterprisesâ credibility in the eyes of both its audience and investors.
Interestingly, while Lee Enterprises seems to be downplaying the threat with statements like “We are aware of the claims and are currently investigating them,” this type of breach goes beyond technical recovery. The fallout could extend well into public relations, legal, and investor relations territories, as questions about media practices, transparency, and editorial integrity could arise.
Lee Enterprisesâ handling of this breach will be critical, as the company needs to demonstrate not only the technical aspects of the breach but also how it maintains trust in an increasingly skeptical media environment. Furthermore, the broader implications on the newspaper industry could also be significant. If large media companies like Lee Enterprises are vulnerable to such breaches, it may trigger a wave of regulatory scrutiny or even shake public confidence in the security of media institutions.
The timing of Qilinâs leak threatâscheduled for March 5âcould also be strategic. By issuing a public warning, the group may be attempting to put psychological pressure on the victim, creating a sense of urgency that might force Lee Enterprises to act under duress. Such psychological tactics are becoming more common in cyberattacks as they escalate from simple financial extortion to full-blown reputational warfare.
Fact Checker Results:
- Claimed Breach Size: The 350GB of data claimed by Qilin has not yet been independently verified, but its impact could be significant given the scope of documents reportedly stolen.
- No Ransom Demand: Unlike typical ransomware attacks, Qilin is not asking for a ransom, focusing instead on public exposure, which represents a new shift in cybercriminal tactics.
– Lee
References:
Reported By: https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/qilin-cyber-gang-credit-lee-newspaper-breach
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