Rede record was Affected by pirate attack Significantly on Saturday (8), affecting radio broadcasts so far. While no official statement has been released, reports from sources close to the company reveal the havoc created by the work of cybercriminals, who used ransomware to grab company files.
According to information obtained by Felipe Baiao, a journalist at TecMundo, the registry was affected by an attack using the BlackCat ransomware, which is distributed as a service by hackers. In addition to capturing the broadcaster’s files and demanding a ransom for their release, the criminals allegedly gained access to employee data, a network map along with the broadcaster’s credentials and financial information.
However, the hacker attack also draws attention to its consequences on the recording screen. Since the beginning of the attack, the network has done its best to continue running the programming. Some sources close to the company have revealed some of the consequences of the cybercriminal act in the TV station’s production routine.
intermittent programming
The first result of the hacker attack was seen on Saturday morning: Record’s programming was hastily halted due to the attack, which allegedly made it difficult to keep attractions live on air.
Conclusion of the missed episode of Fala Brasil: pic.twitter.com/atmkF1TS8r
– Marcos (@marcosjungbluth) October 8, 2022
Because of this, the presenter suspended the press program, Fala Brasil, and replaced it with Todo Mundo Odeia o Chris, which was shown on Saturday morning. Watch the moment the suspicions of the attack began in the video above.
Use of physical media and playback
With so many digital files trapped by hackers, Record had to scramble to keep the programming on the air. According to journalist Ricardo Feltrine’s sources, the company requested files on physical media, such as a memory card – now, the company intends to keep a collection in physical files to ensure further protection against actions of this kind.
The programming schedule has also undergone changes due to the work of cybercriminals. Hora do Faro, which airs on Sundays, has brought back the popular Vai Dar Namoro, instead of an unprecedented version.
Hora do Faro was one of those affected by the hacker attack.
Journalists Domingo Espitacular and Camera Record were also affected, as unpublished material and interviews were discarded at the last minute. The company had to replace the material with stories or replays that were edited in near real time.
ibope can’t be reached
In addition to the affected programs, the attack could also have affected the monitoring of television station audience data. Access to ibope’s information is limited and can only be done through the Kantar website, according to journalist Ricardo Feltrine.
Previously, public information could be accessed by smartphone, but only by some high-ranking users of the company. Even with access restrictions, it is also alleged that the data was compromised in the hacker attack, making it difficult to trace the information.
ransom demand?
While the situation remains murky, as Record has not issued an official statement regarding the attack, reports from sources close to the company indicate that the company is waiting for more information from the hackers, such as a ransom request. Common in ransomware attacks, ransomware is the step in which cybercriminals demand a sum of money from the victim, and promise to release the seized files.
However, it is important to note that security experts do not recommend paying, as it encourages the continuation of this type of fraud. In addition, in some cases, even hackers cannot open the files, as some ransomware uses advanced and sophisticated encryption.