elliotalderson
Member
Hey everyone,
I wanted to start a conversation about cyber extortion, because it’s becoming a really serious problem and the attacks are getting smarter. One case that caught my attention happened in Paraguay in June 2025. A hacker group called Brigada Cyber PC claimed they had stolen data from several government agencies and demanded around $7.4 million, threatening to release the information if the government didn’t pay.
When the deadline passed, parts of the data reportedly appeared online on darknet forums. The information was said to come from agencies like health, justice, and airlines. Even though the government said the leaked data didn’t fully match official records, it’s a clear example of how hackers can combine data theft and extortion to put enormous pressure on their targets.
What’s worrying is that these attacks aren’t just aimed at businesses or individuals anymore. Entire governments and public systems are now at risk. Sometimes hackers don’t even need to deploy ransomware, just the threat of releasing sensitive data can cause chaos and panic.
For anyone managing systems or sensitive information, this is a reminder to keep backups and security measures tight. It’s also important to have a plan for dealing with extortion attempts, know who to contact, and think carefully before responding to ransom demands. Paying attackers doesn’t guarantee safety and may encourage more attacks.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s seen similar cases or has experience dealing with cyber extortion. How are organizations handling it, and are there patterns in these attacks we should be watching for?
The Paraguay case shows that cyber extortion isn’t just a business problem, it can affect national security and public safety too. Sharing experiences and strategies can help all of us be better prepared.
I wanted to start a conversation about cyber extortion, because it’s becoming a really serious problem and the attacks are getting smarter. One case that caught my attention happened in Paraguay in June 2025. A hacker group called Brigada Cyber PC claimed they had stolen data from several government agencies and demanded around $7.4 million, threatening to release the information if the government didn’t pay.
When the deadline passed, parts of the data reportedly appeared online on darknet forums. The information was said to come from agencies like health, justice, and airlines. Even though the government said the leaked data didn’t fully match official records, it’s a clear example of how hackers can combine data theft and extortion to put enormous pressure on their targets.
What’s worrying is that these attacks aren’t just aimed at businesses or individuals anymore. Entire governments and public systems are now at risk. Sometimes hackers don’t even need to deploy ransomware, just the threat of releasing sensitive data can cause chaos and panic.
For anyone managing systems or sensitive information, this is a reminder to keep backups and security measures tight. It’s also important to have a plan for dealing with extortion attempts, know who to contact, and think carefully before responding to ransom demands. Paying attackers doesn’t guarantee safety and may encourage more attacks.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s seen similar cases or has experience dealing with cyber extortion. How are organizations handling it, and are there patterns in these attacks we should be watching for?
The Paraguay case shows that cyber extortion isn’t just a business problem, it can affect national security and public safety too. Sharing experiences and strategies can help all of us be better prepared.