House Hunters, a Hong Kong Real Estate Agency, Suffers Ransomware Attack

House Hunters, a prominent real estate agency in Hong Kong, has been targeted by the ransomware group Lockbit3. The attack was announced on the group's dark web leak site, which lists the victim's website as https://www.househunters.com.hk/. The company, which has been in operation since 1985, is known for its expat-friendly services and has a reputation for providing personalized and comprehensive property search services.

The Lockbit3 ransomware group is a rebranded version of the Hive ransomware, which was dismantled by law enforcement in January 2023. The new group has acquired the Hive source code and infrastructure, and while it has not yet reached the same level of notoriety as its predecessor, it has already claimed five victims.

The attack on House Hunters is part of a broader trend of ransomware targeting the real estate sector. In a separate incident, a ransomware attack on Jackson County's Recorder of Deeds, Assessment and Collections Office has delayed home sales.

The ransomware attack on House Hunters highlights the need for real estate agencies to prioritize cybersecurity measures to protect their clients' data and prevent disruptions to their operations. This includes implementing robust data backup and recovery systems, regularly updating software and security protocols, and providing employee training on cybersecurity best practices.

Sources

• House Hunters - Homepage
• BleepingComputer: New Lockbit Ransomware Possibly a Rebrand of Hive
• Fox4kc: Ransomware Attack Delaying Jackson County Home Sales
• DarkReading: Hive Ransomware Operations Disrupted by Law Enforcement
• The Hacker News: New Ransomware Group Emerges with Hive's Source Code and Infrastructure