NAL Cyberattack: NIA Probes LockBit Ransomware Attack on India's Top Aerospace Lab | Exclusive
Man, this is scary stuff. India's top aerospace lab – the National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru – got hit by a massive ransomware attack last November. And guess who's behind it? LockBit, one of the world's most dangerous cybercrime gangs. Now, the NIA's anti-terror squad is on the case, treating this as a possible cyberterrorism incident.
Wait... LockBit? Weren't They Just Shut Down?
Yeah, funny story – international cops did take down LockBit last month in a huge global operation. But looks like either:
-
Their hackers are still active, OR
-
This attack happened before the takedown and is just coming to light now
Either way, it's bad news. These guys stole classified documents from NAL and threatened to leak them unless they got paid. Classic ransomware move.
Why This Attack Matters
-
NAL isn't just any lab – it's India's ONLY civilian aerospace R&D center
-
They work on sensitive projects, including parts for India's space program
-
LockBit's hit 2,000+ victims worldwide, extorted $120 MILLION+
The Big Questions
-
How'd they breach NAL's security? (Asking for a friend who works in IT...)
-
Was data actually stolen? The lab hasn't confirmed yet
-
Is this connected to China/Russia? (Given how often they target Indian infra...)
Silver Lining?
At least LockBit's main ops got wrecked last month by the FBI & friends. Their leader's probably crying into his hacker hoodie right now.
