# Colt Admits Customer Data Likely Stolen in Cyber-Attack

Colt Technology Services has issued a shocking admission: customer data is likely to have been stolen during a recent cyber attack. In a dramatic reversal of its earlier claims, the British telecommunications giant acknowledged on August 21 that the malicious actors behind the hack had accessed certain files from its systems, which may contain sensitive information about customers.

On August 14, Colt initially stated that it had taken some systems offline in response to a "cyber incident" that targeted an "internal system" separate from its customer-facing infrastructure. This move resulted in the disruption of support services, including hosting and porting services, as well as Colt Online and Voice API platforms. However, in its update, Colt revealed that the true extent of the breach was far more sinister than initially thought.

The company confirmed that the criminal group behind the hack had "accessed certain files from our systems that may contain information related to our customers" and posted the document titles on the dark web. This disturbing revelation has sent shockwaves through the cybersecurity community, with many experts expressing concerns about the potential impact on Colt's customers.

In a move that is being hailed as unusual, Colt offered its customers the option to request a list of filenames posted on the dark web by calling the company's dedicated call center. The company also notified users that the support services it took offline were still unavailable as of August 21, with an estimated timeline for restoration remaining uncertain.

In a further twist, Warlock, the group behind the attack, has announced plans to auction off Colt's compromised data in a private auction set to close on August 27. This approach, known as "double extortion," involves both publicly exposing stolen data and attempting to sell it in a private auction. According to experts, including independent researcher Kevin Beaumont and Trend Micro researchers, Warlock ransomware operators have extensively targeted the Microsoft SharePoint 'ToolShell' vulnerability exploit chain to hit victims globally.

The implications of this breach are far-reaching, with many experts warning that Colt's customers may be at risk of further exploitation. As the situation continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Colt's admission marks a significant turning point in the company's response to the cyber attack, and its customers will be watching closely as the situation develops.

### Timeline:

* August 14: Colt takes some systems offline due to "cyber incident" targeting internal system * August 21: Colt updates on the breach, confirming that customer data may have been accessed by malicious actors

### Key Figures:

* Warlock: The group responsible for the cyber attack against Colt Technology Services * Kevin Beaumont: Independent researcher who has been tracking Warlock ransomware operators * Trend Micro researchers: Experts who have analyzed the tactics used by Warlock to target Microsoft SharePoint users