"Playboy": Alleged cyber attack on DIHK

A cyber gang with the name "Playboy" appeared on the darknet for the first time last weekend. An entry on their leak site now mentions the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), with a countdown. It ends on November 5 at 3 p.m. Central European Time.

The entry on the darknet page of the ransomware association only provides the countdown, a turnover of 28 million US dollars and a brief description of the DIHK. It remains unclear what the suspected criminals intend to publish in just under a week. A specific ransom demand is also not on public display.

DIHK is investigating the incident

When asked by heise online, the DIHK remains calm: "The DIHK takes cyber security very seriously and is constantly adapting its measures to the changing threat situation. We have taken note of the post and are comprehensively checking our own systems again. We are currently unable to detect any data outflows or effective acts of sabotage."

The DIHK is not saying whether a ransom demand has been made or whether the gang has made contact. The alleged data thieves also do not specify what information or data they have obtained that they will publish in a week's time.

The darknet leak page of the young cyber gang only shows two entries so far. The first is a kind of page opening and shows the date as October 24. The second entry then refers to the DIHK. It remains to be seen what the DIHK's investigations reveal and what "Playboy" actually publishes.

Bluffs occasionally occur in the ransomware scene. For example, the well-known Lockbit gang claimed to have published data from the trial against Donald Trump after destroying central infrastructure. This was also a hoax.

(dmk)