The GLOBAL GROUP ransomware gang is claiming duty for a breach of Albavisión (albavision.television), a significant Spanish-language media conglomerate primarily based in Miami, Florida. The group additionally claims to have stolen 400 GB of information.
GLOBAL GROUP is a newly emerged Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) operation that has been lively since early June 2025. The group has focused a number of sectors globally, together with media and healthcare, with Albavisión listed as its twenty ninth claimed sufferer since its launch.
What units GLOBAL GROUP ransomware other than different gangs is its use of an AI-driven negotiation device. This method employs chatbots to deal with negotiations with victims, significantly those that don’t converse English.
In its newest announcement posted earlier at present on its darkish internet leak website, GLOBAL GROUP said that Albavisión has 15 days to start negotiations or the allegedly stolen knowledge will probably be printed on-line. Whereas the precise ransom quantity on this case is unknown, a earlier incident noticed by EclecticIQ confirmed the group demanding 9.5 BTC, which was roughly $1 million on the time.
A take a look at the ransomware group’s earlier listings exhibits it has up to now leaked a whole dataset of 18 victims, which additionally features a hospital.
Is GLOBAL GROUP Ransomware Concentrating on Media Giants?
Whereas GLOBAL GROUP has been focusing on quite a lot of industries, its latest exercise suggests a deal with media organisations. For instance, the group has listed “RTE” as certainly one of its victims, although no further particulars have been offered. RTE (RTÉ) is the nationwide tv and radio broadcaster of Eire.
Nevertheless, because it stays unclear which entity the group is referring to, Hackread.com doesn’t indicate that the Irish media organisation was breached or is the supposed goal listed as “RTE.”
One other identify on the record is Rete Toscana Classica (RTC), an Italian radio station that broadcasts classical music 24 hours a day. Each RTE and RTC have been given 7 days to reply or start negotiations with the GLOBAL GROUP ransomware gang.
Concentrating on Albavisión: A Calculated Transfer by GLOBAL GROUP?
Concentrating on Albavisión seems to be a calculated transfer. The multinational media conglomerate operates throughout Latin America, proudly owning round 45 tv channels, 68 radio stations, a print publication, and roughly 65 film theatres in 14 to fifteen Spanish-speaking nations.
The corporate was based in 1987 by Remigio Ángel González, a Mexican-born Guatemalan businessman who is understood for buying struggling media shops and turning them into worthwhile operations utilizing syndicated programming and native telenovelas. González is personally estimated to be value round $2 billion, although the precise valuation of the corporate itself shouldn’t be publicly disclosed.
Nonetheless, GLOBAL GROUP ransomware is rising as one more severe cybersecurity menace to organisations worldwide. Whereas authorities proceed to wrestle with the rising problem of ransomware gangs and with even knowledge breach-focused menace actors like Scattered Spider now shifting towards ransomware, companies should rethink their safety methods.
That is particularly pressing for sectors like healthcare. Implementing clear cybersecurity insurance policies and offering coaching to all employees, together with these with restricted entry to delicate knowledge, is crucial. Workers needs to be educated on phishing scams, social engineering techniques, and the dangers of utilizing work units for private actions.
Hackread.com has reached out to Albavisión. This text will probably be up to date accordingly.
