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Ransomware Victim Public Sector

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences

Ransomware attack by Fog · Disclosed February 4, 2025 · 🇩🇪 Germany

gfz.de

Date Disclosed
Feb 4, 2025
2025
Threat Group
Fog
189 total victims
Country
🇩🇪 Germany
Industry
Public Sector

ThreatAI Analysis

Compiled from this incident record and the threat intelligence profile for Fog. Figures and technique mappings are quoted from the source data, not inferred.

About the Fog group

Fog, which uses the .flocked extension for encrypted files, was first observed in May in campaigns by Storm-0844, a threat actor known for distributing Akira. By June, Storm-0844 was deploying Fog more than Akira. Fog has listed 189 victims since December 2021.

Incident Analysis

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences was targeted by Fog ransomware, one of the most active ransomware groups in our database with 189 confirmed victims globally. The attack was disclosed on February 4, 2025, when GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences is based in Germany , operating in the Public Sector sector. Germany ranks #2 globally for ransomware attacks, with 930 victims in our database.

Sector context: Organisations in this sector hold valuable data and operational systems that ransomware groups seek to exploit for financial gain through encryption and data exfiltration.

Fog typically employs a double extortion model: first exfiltrating sensitive data from the victim's systems, then deploying ransomware to encrypt files. Victims face two simultaneous threats — paying to restore access and paying to prevent publication of stolen data. The group's leak site publishes victim names and exfiltrated data as leverage.

Data source: This incident record is sourced from public ransomware group leak site disclosures aggregated via the ransomware.live API. Disclosure date reflects when the victim was published on the leak site, which may differ from the initial date of compromise. This platform does not publish or link to stolen data. Last data update: Sep 21, 2026 12:00 UTC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences attacked by ransomware?

Yes. GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences was listed as a victim of the Fog ransomware group on February 4, 2025. The organisation is based in Germany and operates in the Public Sector sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences?

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences was attacked by Fog ransomware. Fog is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 189 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences was disclosed on February 4, 2025. This date reflects when the victim was published on the threat group's leak site, which may differ from the actual date of initial compromise.

What data was stolen in the GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences has not been independently verified by this platform. Ransomware groups typically exfiltrate data before encrypting systems and use the threat of publication to pressure victims. As a Public Sector organisation, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences likely held sensitive business data, client information, and operational records.

How can organisations protect against Fog attacks?

To defend against Fog and similar threat actors, organisations should: maintain regular offline backups tested for restoration; implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement; deploy multi-factor authentication on all remote access; use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools; conduct regular phishing and security awareness training; and monitor threat intelligence feeds for indicators of compromise (IOCs) associated with active groups.