The Golden Scale: Notable Threat Updates and Looking Ahead
Category:Threat Alerts / Threat Intelligence
Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 tracks Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters’ extortion activity after their Oct 10 deadline, observing leaks tied to six companies and chatter about an Extortion‑as‑a‑Service model without encryption. The group seeks insider access across sectors and hints at new ransomware development (SHINYSP1D3R), signaling evolution in the extortion ecosystem.
CORTEX Protocol Intelligence Assessment
Business Impact: Data‑theft‑only extortion lowers attacker friction and complicates payment calculus. Technical Context: Insider recruitment and leak site dynamics expand attack surface beyond encryption‑driven disruption.
Strategic Intelligence Guidance
- Develop EaaS‑specific playbooks for reputational and data verification response.
- Establish insider risk programs and reporting channels.
- Track leak sites and Telegram for early‑warning signals.
- Pre‑stage legal/IR comms for data‑theft extortion scenarios.
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Intelligence Source: The Golden Scale: Notable Threat Updates and Looking Ahead | Oct 21, 2025