Hunters International leaks pre-op plastic surgery pics in negotiation no-no

A newly emerged ransomware gang claims to have successfully gained access to the systems of a US plastic surgeon's clinic, leaking patients' pre-operation pictures in an attempt to hurry a ransom payment.

The group, calling itself Hunters International, has claimed attacks on only two victims so far, with the first – a UK primary school – appearing earlier this month.

Security experts have linked Hunters to the shuttered Hive group, which was dismantled through a coordinated international law enforcement operation in January.

After its alleged attack on a US surgeon's clinic, the group appears to be using a particularly aggressive tactic to speed up ransom negotiations that will likely be perceived as crossing a moral line, even for cybercriminals.

Hunters International shared four images of individuals whom it says are patients of Dr Jaime Schwartz – a plastic surgeon with offices in Beverly Hills and Dubai – as "proof" of the 248,245 files it claims to have stolen from the clinic.

According to the group's leak site, it's preparing to send bulk emails to the clinic's patients as another fear tactic designed to hasten proceedings.

Posting a follow-up update, the group published the names, addresses, photos, and in some cases videos of alleged patients in what it's calling the first of three total disclosures.

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https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/25/rebuilt_hive_ransomware_gang_stings/