Taiwan-based technology provider Micro-Star International (MSI) Co LTD recently announced that its servers had been encrypted by ransomware gang ‘Money Message’ and that the hackers were demanding a ransom of $4 million. MSI’s statement suggested that the hackers had gained fraudulent access to approximately 1.5TB of data, including source code, BIOS tools, and some R&D details.
The hackers have taken to Telegram and various dark web forums to post screenshots of the stolen data and have threatened to sell the information, including the source code, unless MSI agrees to their demands. MSI has urged users not to download any BIOS or firmware updates from external web resources and instead to rely on the official website for such needs.
MSI is renowned for its industrial computers and other PC peripherals, which are used for car infotainment systems, drones, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and military submarines and flying fleets. In 2022, when other major companies such as Microsoft and Apple Inc chose to withdraw their operations from the Russian market, MSI disagreed to do so and claimed that it would adhere to international laws of trade and keep its business functioning in the Russian Federation.
In conclusion, the severity of the ransomware attack on MSI is clear, and the hackers’ threats to sell the stolen information should be taken seriously. MSI’s IT team is working around the clock to recover the data from the incident and is asking users to only download updates from its official website. MSI’s former stance on keeping its business operations in the Russian Federation during a time of economic uncertainty is also commendable. Key Points:
• MSI’s servers were encrypted by ransomware gang ‘Money Message’ and the hackers are demanding a ransom of $4 million
• The hackers have posted screenshots of the stolen data on Telegram and dark web forums and have threatened to sell the information if MSI does not agree to their demands
• MSI is renowned for its industrial computers and other PC peripherals, which are used in a variety of industries
• MSI chose to keep its business operations in the Russian Federation during a time of uncertainty in 2022