Christie's Hack: Threat to Auction 500,000 Clients' Data
June 04, 24
(IDEX Online) - Hackers behind the cyberattack on Christie's are reportedly threatening to auction off personal information relating to 500,000 clients.
RansomHub, the group claiming responsibility for the attack that paralyzed Christie's online activity, is now offering to sell the stolen data, although it's unclear who would want to buy it.
In a post on the dark web it claims it attempted to reach a "reasonable resolution" with the 258-year-old auction house, but says Christie's abruptly ended communications.
The group had threatened to release the data online unless Christie's paid a ransom by Monday (3 June) but did not do so. It now seems intent on causing reputational damage and prompting "heavy fines from GDP (General Data Protection Regulation)".
Christie's says there's no evidence that any financial or transactional records were compromised.
Its website and apps went down on 9 May due to what Christie's described at the time as a "technology security issue".
The auction house was forced to extend five online-only sales, postpone its Rare Watches Live Auction and accept only live bids at its Only Watch charity auction.
Pic courtesy Christie's shows its postponed Rare Watches Auction in Geneva.