Qilin Ransomware Group Targets Hikari Seiko, Claims of Over 500 GB Data

• The notorious Qilin Ransomware gang recently claimed to have targeted and stolen Hikari Seiko's data.
• The Japan-based tech manufacturer has not yet acknowledged the alleged security incident.
• Approximately 333,000 files have been reportedly exfiltrated from the company’s private information.

Hikari Seiko has reportedly become the latest victim of the Qilin ransomware group. According to the threat actors, which announced the data breach on the gang’s leak website, 502.5 GB of the organization’s data was exfiltrated during the attack.

Japan-based Hikari Seiko CO. LTD. is a prominent manufacturer specializing in precision parts and high-quality components for multiple industries. The notorious Qilin ransomware group is known for targeting organizations across diverse sectors. 

While specifics regarding the nature of the compromised data have yet to be confirmed by Hikari Seiko, the volume of stolen data suggests a potentially significant impact on the organization’s operations and sensitive information related to proprietary designs, client dealings, or manufacturing protocols.

Qilin is a well-documented ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation that allows cybercriminal affiliates to launch targeted attacks in exchange for a share of the ransom payments. 

It employs encryption techniques combined with data theft as crippling leverage to extort victims, threatening the exposure of stolen data on dark web marketplaces if demands aren't met.

This breach could have severe repercussions for Hikari Seiko’s reputation, vendor and client relationships, and compliance standings. Beyond financial considerations, the incident highlights vulnerabilities that remain present even in advanced, technology-driven environments such as manufacturing.

The company has not yet commented publicly on the claims or provided updates regarding steps being taken to address the situation.

In October, a new Qilin variant called Qilin.B was identified. It is written in Rust, a programming language known for its resilience against reverse engineering.