The hackers that have stolen a major Israeli insurance company's database said Sunday that it has already "received offers" for it and plans to "sell it to the highest bidder."
The group, calling itself "Black Shadow," had demanded a ransom of 50 bitcoins – nearly $1 million – for the database that was stolen form Shirbit Insurance. The company refused to pay.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The hackers have released several samples of the information they have, including documents containing names, addresses, phone numbers, credit card information, and drivers' licenses of the company's clients.
As the company has remained adamant in its refusal to pay, Black Shadow has upped the ransom, which now stands on 200 bitcoin – nearly $4 million.
Shirbit has many civil servants among its clients, having won a government tender a few years ago.
As the company refused to pay the ransom, Black Shadow said it would auction off the database. Its social media accounts claimed that it has received offers from multiple interested parties and promised "to address every request."
Communication specialist Ronen Tzur, hired by Shirbit to manage the crisis, told Army Radio that the company has made a "strategic decision" not to pay the hackers.
"We will not cooperate with extortion attempts. The more digital the world becomes, the more prevalent such hacks could become and we will not cooperate with them."
He noted that "this was not a regular ransomware attack. The hackers went public even before they contact the company."
He further stressed that none of Shirbit clients' viable credit card information had been compromised.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
