Threat Management, Malware, Ransomware

Possible ransomware attack disturbs Altran Technologies’ European operations

French engineering research and consulting firm Altran Technologies disclosed this week that a Jan. 24 cyberattack impacted its operations in certain European countries.

In response to the incident, the company immediately shut down its IT network and all applications," the company said in a press release issued on Monday.

Altran's statement was short on specifics, but a report from Bleeping Computer today says that the company appears to have fallen victim to a ransomware program known as LockerGoga. The report cited a tweet from a computer researcher with the Twitter handle @xvxsh4d0w, which suggests that a particular malware sample found on VirusTotal was responsible for the attack.

"We have mobilized leading global third-party technical experts and forensics, and the investigation we have conducted with them has not identified any stolen data nor instances of a propagation of the incident to our clients," the release stated. "Our recovery plan is unfolding as expected and our technical teams are fully mobilized."

Bradley Barth

As director of multimedia content strategy at CyberRisk Alliance, Bradley Barth develops content for online conferences, webcasts, podcasts video/multimedia projects — often serving as moderator or host. For nearly six years, he wrote and reported for SC Media as deputy editor and, before that, senior reporter. He was previously a program executive with the tech-focused PR firm Voxus. Past journalistic experience includes stints as business editor at Executive Technology, a staff writer at New York Sportscene and a freelance journalist covering travel and entertainment. In his spare time, Bradley also writes screenplays.

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