Rumpke cyber attack under investigation: Hackers allegedly stole 3.3 terabytes of data

Rumpke, the prominent waste management company, is currently investigating a ransomware attack believed to have been orchestrated by the cybercriminal group Hunters International.

According to Halcyon, a source on ransomware activity, the attackers reportedly extracted approximately 3.3 terabytes of data in the incident, which took place last Friday. Rumpke has confirmed it is aware of the attack and is collaborating with cybersecurity forensic experts to examine the breach’s scope and prevent further impact.

Ransomware attacks typically unfold in one of two ways: by encrypting critical company data, rendering it unusable, or by exfiltrating sensitive information with the threat of public exposure. Tech expert Dave Hatter explained that ransomware severely threatens businesses by compromising access to computer systems or confidential information and demanding ransom for decryption or data return. “The longer you can run the ransomware, the more systems they can impact, the more likely you want to pay,” Hatter explained. Hackers often begin leaking information as leverage if the targeted entity refuses to pay.

Hatter also highlighted how ransomware groups have targeted sensitive sectors, from schools to hospitals, releasing personal data when victims refused to comply with ransom demands. He stressed the importance of robust data backups as a critical defense against such attacks, noting, “If you don’t have good backups, and you can’t restore your data, you might not be able to survive an attack like this.”

As of Tuesday morning, Rumpke reported no additional updates on the situation, affirming no current indication that public information has been compromised.