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Cyber Threat
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Ransomware victim Retail & E-Commerce

Target

Listed by Xpl0itrs on · organisation based in United States

target.com

Disclosed
Aug 20, 2026
Leak-site listing date
Threat group
Xpl0itrs
8 victims listed
Country
United States
#1 most targeted
Sector
Retail & E-Commerce

ThreatAI analysis

Compiled from this incident record and the threat intelligence profile for Xpl0itrs. Figures and technique mappings are quoted from the source data, not inferred.

About the Xpl0itrs group

Xpl0itrs has listed 8 victims since June 2026.

Incident analysis

Target was listed by Xpl0itrs ransomware, a group with 8 victims recorded in this database. The listing appeared on the group's leak site on August 20, 2026.

Target is based in United States and operates in the Retail & E-Commerce sector. United States ranks #1 worldwide for ransomware disclosures, with 10,308 victims in this 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.

Xpl0itrs typically follows a double extortion model: data is exfiltrated from the victim's systems before files are encrypted, so the victim faces two demands at once — pay to restore access, and pay to keep stolen data unpublished. The leak site, where this listing appeared, is the lever for the second demand.

Source. Public leak-site disclosures aggregated via the ransomware.live API. The disclosure date is when the listing was published, which can differ from the date of compromise. This site does not publish or link to stolen data. Last updated .

Frequently asked questions

Was Target attacked by ransomware?

Yes. Target was listed as a victim of the Xpl0itrs ransomware group on August 20, 2026. The organisation is based in United States and operates in the Retail & E-Commerce sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked Target?

Target was attacked by Xpl0itrs ransomware. Xpl0itrs is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 8 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the Target ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on Target was disclosed on August 20, 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 Target ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from Target 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 Retail & E-Commerce organisation, Target likely held sensitive business data, client information, and operational records.

How can organisations protect against Xpl0itrs attacks?

To defend against Xpl0itrs 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.