Israel’s Technion University was hit by a ransomware attack on Sunday, prompting the university to block all communication networks. DarkBit, a new group, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Technion, a top Israeli university, said in a tweet that the nature and scope of the attack are under investigation. Technion is known for its contributions to biotechnology, stem cell research, space, device science, nanotechnology, and energy, and has postponed scheduled exams due to the attack. However, classes will continue as usual, and the university’s website remains inaccessible.
DarkBit demanded 80 bitcoins, or $1,729,320, as ransom from the university, with a 30% penalty added after 48 hours. The group hacked the Technion network and moved all data to their servers. They shared a messenger ID for the Tox secure messaging app to recover personal files, which they claimed are encrypted with AES-256 military-grade algorithm. DarkBit identified some of their social media on Telegram, Twitter, Reddit, YouTube, and Facebook. The group’s Telegram channel has 379 followers and describes itself as “against any kind of racism, fascism and apartheid. #HackForGood.”
The Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) is assisting with the investigation and studying the consequences of the situation at Technion university, according to The Jerusalem Post. In 2022, the INCD prevented around 1,000 major cyberattacks that could have caused significant damage to the Israeli economy, according to Gaby Portnoy, director general of the Israel National Cyber Directorate.
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Author: Matt Burgess, Lily Hay Newman
