Cyber Threat Intelligence
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Ransomware Victim Public Sector

NSW Rural Fire Service

Ransomware attack by Nova · Disclosed June 26, 2026 · 🇦🇺 Australia

rfs.nsw.gov.au

Date Disclosed
Jun 26, 2026
2026
Threat Group
Nova
194 total victims
Country
🇦🇺 Australia
Industry
Public Sector

ThreatAI Analysis

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

About the Nova group

Nova (formerly RALord) is a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) group that encrypts victims’files and uses double-extortion tactics to pressure organizations into paying for decryption and data non-disclosure. Nova has listed 178 victims since March 2025.

Incident Analysis

NSW Rural Fire Service was targeted by Nova ransomware, one of the most active ransomware groups in our database with 194 confirmed victims globally. The attack was disclosed on June 26, 2026, when NSW Rural Fire Service appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

NSW Rural Fire Service is based in Australia , operating in the Public Sector sector. Australia ranks #10 globally for ransomware attacks, with 378 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.

Nova 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 5, 2026 16:00 UTC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was NSW Rural Fire Service attacked by ransomware?

Yes. NSW Rural Fire Service was listed as a victim of the Nova ransomware group on June 26, 2026. The organisation is based in Australia and operates in the Public Sector sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked NSW Rural Fire Service?

NSW Rural Fire Service was attacked by Nova ransomware. Nova is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 194 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the NSW Rural Fire Service ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on NSW Rural Fire Service was disclosed on June 26, 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 NSW Rural Fire Service ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from NSW Rural Fire Service 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, NSW Rural Fire Service likely held sensitive business data, client information, and operational records.

How can organisations protect against Nova attacks?

To defend against Nova 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.