A group of hackers is claiming to have caused a data breach at Coca-Cola Co., but cybersecurity experts are casting doubt on the claim.
A group calling itself Stormous said it gained access to a tranche of Coca-Cola’s confidential data and is offering it for the equivalent of about $64,000 in bitcoin. Coca-Cola told the Wall Street Journal that it is aware of the claim and is cooperating with law enforcement.
However, experts consulted by the Journal noted that Stormous has a reputation for claiming to have “hacked” data that was already made available on the dark web by others. One said that cybercriminals often exaggerate the extent of their hacks to pressure the victims to pay.
Stormous claims to be acting on behalf of Russia, in retaliation for Coca-Cola’s decision to pull out of that country after it invaded Ukraine. Other hackers, purportedly acting on Ukraine’s behalf, have attacked companies that chose to stay in Russia.
