Cyber Threat Intelligence
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Ransomware Victim Financial Services

Johnson Investment Counsel

Ransomware attack by Storm · Disclosed September 18, 2026 · 🇺🇸 United States

johnsoninv.com

Date Disclosed
Sep 18, 2026
2026
Threat Group
Storm
61 total victims
Country
🇺🇸 United States
Industry
Financial Services

ThreatAI Analysis

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

On 18 September 2026, Storm listed Johnson Investment Counsel on its dark web leak site. The independent wealth management firm provides comprehensive financial services including investment management and retirement planning for individuals, families, businesses, corporations, and nonprofits.

About Johnson Investment Counsel

Johnson Investment Counsel is an independent, employee-owned wealth management firm founded in 1965 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company provides comprehensive financial services to individuals, families, businesses, corporations, retirement plans, foundations, and nonprofit organizations. Its services include investment management, financial planning, retirement and cash-flow planning, estate planning, trust services, charitable planning, and business solutions. Johnson Investment Counsel operates as a fee-only Registered Investment Advisor and emphasizes fiduciary responsibility, long-term relationships, and customized financial strategies. As of June 30, 2026, the firm manages approximately $23 billion in assets and has 159 employees, serving clients across all 50 U.S. states. The company headquarters is located in 7755 Montgomery Road, Suite 180, Cincinnati, OH 45236, United States.51-200 Employees

Source record: ransomware.live

About the Storm group

Storm has listed 49 victims since August 2026.

Incident Analysis

Johnson Investment Counsel was targeted by Storm ransomware, one of the most active ransomware groups in our database with 61 confirmed victims globally. The attack was disclosed on September 18, 2026, when Johnson Investment Counsel appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Johnson Investment Counsel is based in United States , operating in the Financial Services sector. United States ranks #1 globally for ransomware attacks, with 9,532 victims in our database.

Sector context: Financial sector organisations are targeted for their access to funds, sensitive financial data, and the reputational damage a public breach can cause. Regulatory requirements also increase recovery costs.

Storm 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 18, 2026 22:00 UTC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Johnson Investment Counsel attacked by ransomware?

Yes. Johnson Investment Counsel was listed as a victim of the Storm ransomware group on September 18, 2026. The organisation is based in United States and operates in the Financial Services sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked Johnson Investment Counsel?

Johnson Investment Counsel was attacked by Storm ransomware. Storm is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 61 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the Johnson Investment Counsel ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on Johnson Investment Counsel was disclosed on September 18, 2026. 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 Johnson Investment Counsel ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from Johnson Investment Counsel 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 Financial Services organisation, Johnson Investment Counsel likely held financial records, client data, and transaction histories.

How can organisations protect against Storm attacks?

To defend against Storm 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.