Ransomware Alert: Handala Strikes Weizmann Institute of Science
Summary
On June 18, 2025, the hacktivist group Handala announced a ransomware attack targeting the Weizmann Institute of Science, a leading research institution in Israel. The attackers have threatened to release confidential data unless their demands are addressed.
Incident Report
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Target | Weizmann Institute of Science |
| Country | Israel |
| Attacking Group | Handala |
| Date Reported | June 18, 2025 |
| Threat Actor Statement | “Warning: hacktivist gang. The full leak will be published unless our terms are met.” |
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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