ShinyHunters Devastates Petco in Ransomware Attack

Ransomware

Summary

On October 3, 2025, the ransomware group ShinyHunters publicly claimed responsibility for an attack targeting
Petco, a leading pet specialty retailer in the US.
According to the threat actor’s post, they intend to release sensitive data unless negotiations are initiated.


Incident Report

FieldDetails
TargetPetco
Domain
CountryUSA
Attacking GroupShinyHunters
Date ReportedOctober 3, 2025
Threat Actor Statement“The full leak will be published soon, unless a company representative contacts us via the channels provided.”

Petco, founded in 1965, is a prominent pet specialty retailer in the US, offering a wide range of pet foods, supplies, and services across more than 1,500 locations. The company aims to enhance the lives of pets, their owners, and employees.

ShinyHunters is a notorious cybercriminal group known for targeting large organizations and leaking stolen data if their demands are not met. Their actions have affected numerous companies across various sectors.

To proactively respond to such threats, it is crucial to engage in regular dark web monitoring to detect and prevent potential data breaches. Utilize tools like the domain breach scan at MSP DarkIntel to monitor your company’s exposure and enhance cybersecurity measures.

Recommendations

  • Monitor your domains and email addresses for exposure using reputable threat intelligence tools.
  • Conduct a full compromise assessment and incident response drill internally.
  • Verify backups and ensure they are offline and ransomware-resistant.
  • Educate staff on phishing, social engineering, and lateral movement techniques used by groups like Qilin.
  • Engage with cyber forensics and legal counsel before initiating contact with threat actors.

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Disclaimer

The MSPDarkIntel team does not engage in the exfiltration, downloading, taking, hosting, viewing, reposting, or disclosure of any stolen information.
All breach data reported here is sourced from publicly available threat intelligence feeds for awareness and early-warning purposes only.
Our goal is to inform organizations of emerging threats so they can take timely defensive action.

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