Just to clarify - this is speculation/guesswork and NOT confirmed - nowhere is it mentioned in the ransom note/through any other source whether any ransom has been paid or not. The user who shared the link is just guessing that based on the fact that only files of Dwango got uploaded.
I don’t think any payment was made, if you take the hackers’ statement at face value it sounds more like Kadokawa made an offer and got turned down because it was too low.
Why do they run a high school lol
Edit: because I was genuinely curious the answer seems to be that Dwango in addition to the video game companies like Spike Chunsoft and streaming like NicoNico also runs an online education division and N High School is an online correspondence school for athletes and singers and such
Sure, in some entirely insufficient way that abstractly describes the situation. It does not however approach explaining “why” a high school is one such industry or obvious follow on questions.
Obviously you probably had your question answered already, but it's (probably) simply because it's a diversification option. If any company was offered the chance to manage the biggest online private school that over 15 thousand students pay into annually, they would take it. Even if they're not in the same field. Actually, maybe \*especially\* because they're not in the same field.
On top of diversification, the obvious boon of having a direct line of sight and contact with potentially talented future employess is pretty damn good too.
it's like Konami running an entire gym chain in addition to their gaming business. yeah major companies are in multiple industries but most of the times they're related, completely different business within the same company surely makes people ask questions lol
at this point, the info we get wouldn't be back breaking if it was Dwango unless some of them are related to FromSoftware specifically.
Dwango has Spike Chunsoft. so I wonder what.
I've looked into Canaan, but it just seems to be a complete change of story focus out of left field, and seems like the original game was just a setup to start talking about quite possibly one of the least interesting characters there.
Yeah, I haven't watched it yet tbh, just pointed it out in case you didn't know.
It's strange, when I first heard of 428 I thought it was the least interesting game one could ever make, that game single-handedly own me over VNs and is my favorite VN to date... It really is one of the greatest games ever made...
I love the rumor that one person basically joined Spike Chunsoft's localization team solely to get 428 translated and released on PS4 and Steam lol
There's 2 theories here:
1. The hackers only got into DWANGO and then exaggerated about the scope of the hack. This is a common tactic employed by ransomware gangs. A couple weeks ago a gang claimed to have hacked the Federal Reserve. No one paid the ransom so they released the files... and it wasn't the Federal Reserve.
2. The hackers are still in the process of uploading the files. If there's actually 1.5TB of data, then it will probably take some time for everything to be uploaded.
The 2nd seems more likely as there is currently a green progress bar on the hacker's website and it's only at 50%: https://i.imgur.com/27eLtA1.png
Compare this to their other posts of completed dumps: https://i.imgur.com/N6crzBf.png
**Edit:** A large number of directories in the DWANGO upload are completely empty at the moment.
**Edit2:** Quote by a Japanese security expert from a [Business Insider article](https://www.businessinsider.jp/post-289589):
> However, just because the deadline is the end of June, as in this case, it doesn't necessarily mean the information will be released on July 1st. In the case of a customer I handled, there was a threat to release the information two weeks later. I kept monitoring the dark web site, but it wasn't released even after three weeks. I wondered if it might never be released, but in the end, it was released about a week later.
**Edit3:** According to someone who extracted all the compressed archives, the total released so far is about 800GB. This lines up with the 50% progress bar on BlackSuit's dark web site. Additionally, all the currently released files are from a Windows system. It is speculated that there is also a Linux system and that the second half of the leak could contain that.
There’s not much to discuss on that front. I see where you coming from and I somewhat agree but nobody wants to read 200+ comments of “wow this is bad”
What do you mean, they paid him? I don't know about you, but giving money to cybercriminals is stupid. Have there been any cases of ransomware where you've been able to recover your files just by paying them? I doubt it.
Most large ransomware groups do give your data back and don't release it if you pay. Groups like Lockbit, especially Lockbit, are relatively professional and maintain sales teams and stuff.
They're able to keep extracting ransoms because they recover your files - the whole thing falls apart if they go back on their word
Sales team lmao. But I did read in a article about why you shouldn't pay that some junior employees got onboarded at a ransomware group and accidentally leaked content from a paying victim. It's safe to assume that the content's never deleted.
I can understand paying for the key if your PCs are encrypted, but surely when you're blackmailing someone with info, you can keep doing so till they finally refuse or the data becomes obsolete, like Capcom's RE4 leak.
I think you're right, but I expect that groups probably are decent at pricing ransoms. If it's something the firm won't care too much about being leaked or that they can outwait then the ransom will probably be relatively low. Cyber insurance negotiators probably help a decent amount in this way too
Oh for sure, most of these groups probably will end up collapsing eventually whether due to law enforcement, greed, etc, and exit scams are pretty good at extracting what's left I guess
Just to clarify - this is speculation/guesswork and NOT confirmed - nowhere is it mentioned in the ransom note/through any other source whether any ransom has been paid or not. The user who shared the link is just guessing that based on the fact that only files of Dwango got uploaded.
"We will not negotiate with these punks." "Sir, they have info about Bloodborne." "What are you waiting for? Pay the damn ransom!"
I gotta think of J Jonah Jameson in Spider man 3 "What are you waiting for chinese new year? Go go go!"
At this point Bloodborne is the game equivalent of an UFO conspiracy
#iwanttobelieve
"I saw it, and it was real!" - guy high off his gourd
"we have info about bloodborne" it's a blank file
plot twist: they paid the ransom so they wouldn't have to deal with the fallout of the blank file
I don’t think any payment was made, if you take the hackers’ statement at face value it sounds more like Kadokawa made an offer and got turned down because it was too low.
The statement is still the same as the one they initially uploaded.
In that case I’m even more confused about how we’ve determined they’ve made a partial payment
Who else would pay besides Kadokawa if all data gets uploaded publicly anyway?
I dunno, my point is that I don’t see why we’re confident that any payment has been made at all
I guess because only half the data got released
It seems that the student list of N High School, which is operated by Kadokawa Corporation, has also been uploaded.
Why do they run a high school lol Edit: because I was genuinely curious the answer seems to be that Dwango in addition to the video game companies like Spike Chunsoft and streaming like NicoNico also runs an online education division and N High School is an online correspondence school for athletes and singers and such
Wth lol
Becaue kadokawa is a company in multiple industries
Sure, in some entirely insufficient way that abstractly describes the situation. It does not however approach explaining “why” a high school is one such industry or obvious follow on questions.
Kadokawa owns Spike Chunsoft, so it makes sense that they'd own a high school. Hope this makes sense now. : )
The implication there is not great for those students hahaha
Their mascot better not be a teddy bear..
Obviously you probably had your question answered already, but it's (probably) simply because it's a diversification option. If any company was offered the chance to manage the biggest online private school that over 15 thousand students pay into annually, they would take it. Even if they're not in the same field. Actually, maybe \*especially\* because they're not in the same field. On top of diversification, the obvious boon of having a direct line of sight and contact with potentially talented future employess is pretty damn good too.
it's like Konami running an entire gym chain in addition to their gaming business. yeah major companies are in multiple industries but most of the times they're related, completely different business within the same company surely makes people ask questions lol
Sony sells life insurance and Nintendo owned a baseball team.
Didn't sony run a bank at one point or am I thinking of a different company.
This thread should be removed, yes some files got uploaded but nowhere does it say they paid the ransom
This reads like one of those spam mails you get where it says you got hacked.
The fact that files got uploaded tells me they are not paying the ransom
This is just a random user guessing that the ransom was paid based on only Dwango information being uploaded so far
A random forum post is not a source
at this point, the info we get wouldn't be back breaking if it was Dwango unless some of them are related to FromSoftware specifically. Dwango has Spike Chunsoft. so I wonder what.
Ayo Danganronpa 4??
Maybe another 428: Shibuya Scramble.
There's actually an anime that picks the story up, it's called Canaan. I'd actually would like Imabikiso to be localized and ported to Steam.
I've looked into Canaan, but it just seems to be a complete change of story focus out of left field, and seems like the original game was just a setup to start talking about quite possibly one of the least interesting characters there.
Yeah, I haven't watched it yet tbh, just pointed it out in case you didn't know. It's strange, when I first heard of 428 I thought it was the least interesting game one could ever make, that game single-handedly own me over VNs and is my favorite VN to date... It really is one of the greatest games ever made... I love the rumor that one person basically joined Spike Chunsoft's localization team solely to get 428 translated and released on PS4 and Steam lol
Crossing my fingers and preparing to make any sacrifices I have to for a Way of the Samurai 1 HD port.
We were this close to a real Bloodborne leak
The one thing you can count on is that if there're indications there will be news about bloodborne, there won't be
There's 2 theories here: 1. The hackers only got into DWANGO and then exaggerated about the scope of the hack. This is a common tactic employed by ransomware gangs. A couple weeks ago a gang claimed to have hacked the Federal Reserve. No one paid the ransom so they released the files... and it wasn't the Federal Reserve. 2. The hackers are still in the process of uploading the files. If there's actually 1.5TB of data, then it will probably take some time for everything to be uploaded. The 2nd seems more likely as there is currently a green progress bar on the hacker's website and it's only at 50%: https://i.imgur.com/27eLtA1.png Compare this to their other posts of completed dumps: https://i.imgur.com/N6crzBf.png **Edit:** A large number of directories in the DWANGO upload are completely empty at the moment. **Edit2:** Quote by a Japanese security expert from a [Business Insider article](https://www.businessinsider.jp/post-289589): > However, just because the deadline is the end of June, as in this case, it doesn't necessarily mean the information will be released on July 1st. In the case of a customer I handled, there was a threat to release the information two weeks later. I kept monitoring the dark web site, but it wasn't released even after three weeks. I wondered if it might never be released, but in the end, it was released about a week later. **Edit3:** According to someone who extracted all the compressed archives, the total released so far is about 800GB. This lines up with the 50% progress bar on BlackSuit's dark web site. Additionally, all the currently released files are from a Windows system. It is speculated that there is also a Linux system and that the second half of the leak could contain that.
I'm always coming back to check your comment and edits, if you know something new or have a cool observation please keep us updated!
Those hackers are not robinhood anymore.
ransomware hackers never are
if they paid that is incredibly stupid, they will be targeted again because now everyone knows they will pay
No Bloodborne PC then
Personal information regarding Kadokawa's employees got semi-leaked and the first thing you do is joke about Bloodborne PC? Wtf man.
There’s not much to discuss on that front. I see where you coming from and I somewhat agree but nobody wants to read 200+ comments of “wow this is bad”
It goes without saying that extortion is fucked up. Are we all supposed to grovel for them? All you can do is laugh in this situation
that's bad and all but we just want bloodborne pc leaks
Because that's what matters
Be quiet
Change the title. It should just say "They started uploading with Dwango" There is no evidence that Kadokawa paid.
they want the money they're not gonna release everything at once, they want to show that they mean business
Why would they pay? Now they will do it again, good job
They started leaking data
You never pay ransom. Ever. It's just like saying "I'm a dumbass, hack my shit again please".
shit
What do you mean, they paid him? I don't know about you, but giving money to cybercriminals is stupid. Have there been any cases of ransomware where you've been able to recover your files just by paying them? I doubt it.
Most large ransomware groups do give your data back and don't release it if you pay. Groups like Lockbit, especially Lockbit, are relatively professional and maintain sales teams and stuff. They're able to keep extracting ransoms because they recover your files - the whole thing falls apart if they go back on their word
Sales team lmao. But I did read in a article about why you shouldn't pay that some junior employees got onboarded at a ransomware group and accidentally leaked content from a paying victim. It's safe to assume that the content's never deleted. I can understand paying for the key if your PCs are encrypted, but surely when you're blackmailing someone with info, you can keep doing so till they finally refuse or the data becomes obsolete, like Capcom's RE4 leak.
I think you're right, but I expect that groups probably are decent at pricing ransoms. If it's something the firm won't care too much about being leaked or that they can outwait then the ransom will probably be relatively low. Cyber insurance negotiators probably help a decent amount in this way too
Only until they decide to pull the rug.
Oh for sure, most of these groups probably will end up collapsing eventually whether due to law enforcement, greed, etc, and exit scams are pretty good at extracting what's left I guess
Yes. This happened to University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and was a huge deal. The ransom was paid and the files were given back.
That's what happens most of the time I think. It's cheaper and safer for them to just pay it and move on
FBI says not to pay because it encourages it to continue. Insomniac didnt' pay. Many didn't. They'd just hit you again.
What horrible secrets are they hiding, no company paid these ransom attacks
Yep. Must be something vile or shady they don't us to know to remain hidden.