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Ransomware Victim Financial Services

Merkanti Bank Ltd

Ransomware attack by Akira Β· Disclosed February 25, 2025 Β· πŸ‡²πŸ‡Ή Malta

merkantibank.com

Date Disclosed
Feb 25, 2025
2025
Threat Group
Akira
1,399 total victims
Country
πŸ‡²πŸ‡Ή Malta
Industry
Financial Services

Incident Analysis

Merkanti Bank Ltd was targeted by Akira ransomware, one of the most active ransomware groups in our database with 1,399 confirmed victims globally. The attack was disclosed on February 25, 2025, when Merkanti Bank Ltd appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Merkanti Bank Ltd is based in Malta , operating in the Financial Services sector. Malta ranks #80 globally for ransomware attacks, with 10 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.

Akira 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 β€” 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: Aug 1, 2026 04:00 UTC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Merkanti Bank Ltd attacked by ransomware?

Yes. Merkanti Bank Ltd was listed as a victim of the Akira ransomware group on February 25, 2025. The organisation is based in Malta and operates in the Financial Services sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked Merkanti Bank Ltd?

Merkanti Bank Ltd was attacked by Akira ransomware. Akira is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 1,399 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the Merkanti Bank Ltd ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on Merkanti Bank Ltd was disclosed on February 25, 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 Merkanti Bank Ltd ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from Merkanti Bank Ltd 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, Merkanti Bank Ltd likely held financial records, client data, and transaction histories.

How can organisations protect against Akira attacks?

To defend against Akira 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.