Hunters International Ransomware Group Targets Schuster Trucking Company

Hunters International ransomware group announced on its public website that it has added Schuster Trucking Company to its list of victims. Not many details are known about the attack. Schuster Trucking Company is a family owned and operated company based out of Northwest Iowa. Orville Schuster started Schuster Grain in 1956 with one truck hauling grain in and around Sioux City, Iowa. He continued to grow and expand the services of Schuster Grain to include refrigerated and dry van services, hence the name change.

Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) Emergence

Hunters International, a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) group, emerged in Q3 of 2023 after the discovery of source code bearing resemblances to the infamous Hive ransomware strain. In October 2023, a security researcher's analysis of the ransomware used by Hunters revealed significant code overlaps with Hive ransomware. Subsequent analysis by Bitdefender came to the same findings, leading researchers to conclude that Hive operators have handed off their malicious tool to another threat actor. Despite this, Hunters International has denied any ties to the Hive operation.

Modus Operandi and Impact

Intelligence suggests that Hunters International ransomware primarily aims to exfiltrate target data and extort victims with ransom demands for its return. One reported incident involved a plastic surgery clinic in the US, where approximately 248,000 files, including patient names and addresses, were exfiltrated. The ransomware encrypts files with the ".LOCKED" extension and leaves "Contact Us.txt" files in directories, instructing victims on how to initiate negotiation on the dark web. Successful exploitation by Hunters International typically results in significant data exfiltration prior to issuing a ransom demand, often tailored to the perceived value of the compromised organization.