E-Financial
Hackers Demand $70m after Kaseya Ransomware Attack
Hackers were on Monday demanding $70 million in bitcoin in exchange for data stolen during a “gargantuan” attack on a US IT company that has shuttered hundreds of Swedish supermarkets.
AFP reported that researchers believe more than 1,000 companies could have been affected by the attack on Miami-based firm Kaseya, which provides IT services to some 40,000 businesses around the world.
The FBI warned Sunday that the scale of the “ransomware” attack — a form of digital hostage-taking where hackers encrypt victims’ data and then demand money for restored access — is so large that it may be “unable to respond to each victim individually”.
“It’s probably the biggest ransomware attack of all time,” said Ciaran Martin, cybersecurity professor at the University of Oxford.
“Because of the nature of the attack there’s still a lot of uncertainty over its impact,” he stressed.
But he added that because this was a “supply chain attack” — targeting a company serving thousands of firms, many of whom in turn provide IT support to smaller businesses such as car dealerships — the total number of victims was potentially huge.
Sweden’s Coop supermarket chain was among the indirect victims, with its cash registers paralysed since Friday when its IT subcontractor Visma Esscom was hit by the attack.
Most of Coop’s 800 stores were still closed Monday, spokesman Kevin Bell told AFP, with the few hundred that have reopened relying on alternative payment solutions such as customers paying using their smartphones.
Cybersecurity firm ESET said it had identified victims of the hack in at least 17 countries, from South Africa to Britain to Mexico. New Zealand’s education ministry said at least two schools there had been affected.
‘REvil hackers suspected’
A banner with the logo of bitcoin is seen during the crypto-currency conference Bitcoin 2021 Convention at the Mana Convention Center in Miami, Florida, on June 4, 2021. Marco BELLO / AFP
Experts believe the attack was probably carried out by REvil, a Russian-speaking hacking group known as a prolific perpetrator of ransomware attacks.
A post on Happy Blog, a site on the dark web previously associated with the group, claimed responsibility for the attack and said it had infected “more than a million systems” — which if true would make this attack “absolutely gargantuan in scale”, according to Martin.
The FBI believes that REvil, which also goes by the name Sodinokibi, was behind a ransomware attack last month on global meat-processing giant JBS. The Brazil-based company ended up paying $11 million in bitcoin to the hackers.
The hackers’ blog post said they would release a decryption tool online “so everyone will be able to recover from attack in less than an hour” — if they were handed $70 million in bitcoin.
The hackers have also been reaching out to individual victims and demanding smaller ransoms, Martin said.
“As far as I understand it, they’ve been issuing demands that are about $50,000 for smaller organisations, rising to $5 million for larger organisations,” he told AFP. “We don’t know who’s paid.”
Kaseya said Sunday it believed the damage had been restricted to a “very small number” of customers using its signature VSA software, which lets companies manage networks of computers and printers from a single point.
But cybersecurity firm Huntress Labs said in a Reddit forum that it was working with partners targeted in the attack, and that the software was manipulated “to encrypt more than 1,000 companies”.
Kaseya said it had “immediately shut down” its servers after detecting the attack on Friday and warned its VSA customers to do the same, “to prevent them from being compromised”.
The company has released a tool allowing its customers to find out whether their own computer systems have been compromised by the attack.
‘State-tolerated’ hacking’
In recent months numerous US companies, including the computer group SolarWinds and the Colonial oil pipeline, have been the victims of high-profile ransomware attacks, which the FBI blames on hackers based in Russia.
While Washington officials do not accuse the Russian government of direct involvement in such attacks, they say the country is harbouring hackers who should be arrested.
US President Joe Biden raised the threat in talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin last month, and on Saturday ordered a full investigation into the Kaseya attack.
“Most experts would take the view that it’s highly unlikely that it’s state-directed,” Martin said of this latest cyber-assault. “It’s state-tolerated.”
Independent revenue remittance by the Government-Owned Enterprises (GOEs) moved from ₦200 billion in 2013 to over ₦2 trillion in 2024, Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) confirmed the updated figure, on Wednesday.
FRC attributed the surge to collaboration between it and House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Speaking at 2025 National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance, held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Executive Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Victor Muruako, Esq however notes with concern persistent challenge despite achievements. He cited weak enforcement mechanisms, limited public awareness, and the slow domestication of the FRA at the subnational level as according to him, only 26 out of 36 states have adopted similar laws.
He advocated for the establishment of a National Fiscal Governance Framework to improve coordination and strengthen audit and oversight structures.
Muruako further underscored the need for strict adherence to constitutional provisions, particularly regarding public debt and borrowing, which remain under the exclusive legislative list. He urged federal and sub-national actors to align their fiscal policies under the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.
Muruako called on state and local government operators across Nigeria to adopt and fully implement fiscal responsibility laws in line with the federal framework.
The event organized by House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC), brought together key financial stakeholders to discuss strategies for promoting transparency and sustainable development in Nigeria’s public financial management.
He lauded administration’s of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu commitment to strengthening financial policies aimed at driving economic growth. He emphasized that states and local governments must “key into” the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) to ensure fiscal discipline and alignment with federal financial standards.
Highlighting a critical legislative gap, Muruako noted that the FRA 2007 currently outlines 54 offenses but does not prescribe punishments for offenders. He called for the urgent amendment of the Act to include stronger penalties, thereby enhancing compliance and service delivery.
“The Act must be amended speedily for efficiency and to deliver real value to Nigerians,” he stressed.
He congratulated the PAC, led by Hon. Bamidele Salam, for hosting the conference, which he described as a pivotal step toward strengthening accountability in the public sector.
He advocated for the establishment of a National Fiscal Governance Framework to improve coordination and strengthen audit and oversight structures.
Muruako further underscored the need for strict adherence to constitutional provisions, particularly regarding public debt and borrowing, which remain under the Exclusive Legislative List. He urged federal and subnational actors to align their fiscal policies under the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration.
Reaffirming the FRC’s commitment to advancing transparency and reducing financial leakages, Muruako pledged continued support to the PAC in institutionalizing sound public financial management practices.
He also congratulated the committee for securing Nigeria’s hosting rights for the 2025 West African Association of Public Accounts Committees (WAPAC) Annual Conference, describing it as a testament to Nigeria’s leadership in regional fiscal governance.
PalmPay, a leading digital banking platform in Africa has announced the launch of strategic partnerships with top-tier insurance providers to offer accessible, affordable and simplified insurance products directly within the PalmPay app.
This initiative reflects the brand’s continued commitment to deepening financial inclusion and underscores its mission to improve the wellbeing of everyday Nigerians.
With only about 8.9% of Nigerians currently covered by any form of health insurance, the country remains one of the least insured populations in Africa. Barriers such as low awareness, affordability challenges, and trust issues continue to hinder broader adoption of insurance products.
PalmPay’s new insurance offering directly addresses these challenges by simplifying the purchase and management of insurance policies within the app. The PalmPay insurance feature is designed to make essential coverage, from health to device, and life insurance easily accessible at affordable prices, eliminating the traditional complexities often associated with insurance.
“Insurance is often perceived as complex or inaccessible, especially among underserved communities.” said Habib Kowontan, Head of Wealth Product at PalmPay. “Through these partnerships, we aim to break down those barriers by offering simple, reliable and affordable insurance options that are easily accessible within the PalmPay app.”
With over 35 million users across Nigeria, PalmPay continues to evolve as a smart, consumer-first digital banking platform. The integration of insurance services complements its growing suite of offerings, which includes transfers, bill payments, high-interest savings, and debit card services, making PalmPay one of the most comprehensive digital banking platforms in the African market.
“Our goal at PalmPay is to remove barriers and make essential services easily accessible to everyone,” said Mr Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay. “Through these strategic partnerships, we’re expanding our services to be more inclusive and empowering our users with products that will positively impact their lives and finances.”
This rollout marks a significant milestone in PalmPay’s broader strategy to empower users with tools that enhance their daily lives. Building not just a payments app, but a smart and trusted financial partner for millions of Nigerians.
In a timely gesture aimed at improving the plight of internally displaced persons (IDP) in Benue State, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has distributed mattresses and essential food items to over 2,000 victims of the Yelwata attacks currently taking refuge at the Ultra-Modern International Market IDP Camp in Makurdi.
Team Lead, CSR, Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka (Left); CEO, The Abbasid Charity Foundation, Hauwa Abbas (Centre); and Branch Leader, Fidelity Bank Plc, Makurdi, Terwase (Right), representing the Regional Bank Head, North Central, Sadi Zawiya, with some beneficiaries during the Fidelity Food Bank distribution event in Makurdi, Benue State recently.
The donation, which was carried out in collaboration with the Abbasid Charity Foundation, is part of Fidelity Bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting vulnerable communities through its flagship Fidelity Food Bank program. Since its launch in April 2023, the Food Bank has distributed over 200,000 food packs to beneficiaries across Nigeria’s six geo-political zones.
Speaking about the donation event, the bank’s Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Dr. Meksley Nwagboh reaffirmed Fidelity Bank’s dedication to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its mission to uplift communities.
His words, “Since its launch, the Fidelity Food Bank initiative has helped to alleviate the effect of poverty and malnutrition across the country. We are honored to be back in Benue State to continue this impactful initiative, and we hope that today’s donation brings much-needed relief and comfort to the beneficiaries during this difficult time”.
In her remarks, the Executive Officer, the Abbasid Charity Foundation, Mrs. Hawa Abbas, emphasized the importance of restoring dignity to the displaced, stating that the donation of mattresses was to ensure the IDPs no longer sleep on bare floors.
“This gesture is our way of letting the displaced persons know that they are not forgotten. We care deeply for them, and we hope this donation offers some comfort and hope, even in these difficult circumstances,” Abbas noted.
The Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. James Iorpuu, who was represented by Camp Manager, Mr. Robert Nyom, expressed deep appreciation to Fidelity Bank and the Abbasid Charity Foundation for their timely support.
“Your intervention has brought much-needed relief to the camp and we thank you for your compassion and generosity towards improving the welfare of the displaced persons,” he said.
The bank’s outreach to the International Market IDP Camp in Makurdi represents the most recent of its ongoing critical and timely interventions. Previously, through its Food Bank Initiative, the bank provided essential food items to more than 1,500 residents impacted by the recent flood disaster in Mokwa, Niger State.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
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