Celeb lawyer for Elton John & Lady Gaga held to $21million ransom by hackers threatening to leak stars’ personal details
CYBER criminals are threatening to leak A-list stars' personal information after hacking into a celeb law firm whose clients include Lada Gaga and Elton John.
The hackers have already released what is claimed to be a contract for Madonna and warned more will follow unless the lawyers pay a $21million ransom.
The crooks penetrated the website of New York firm Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks, and claim to have 756 gigabytes of data including contracts and personal emails.
The firm's clients are a who's who of Hollywood and the music industry including Robert De Niro, Rod Stewart and the rapper Drake.
The hackers posted screenshots of a contract for Madonna's Madame X world tour, and another signed by singer Christina Aguilera. A third related to the rapper Lizzo.
Another screenshot claims to be a file directory with the names of showbiz clients including Bruce Springsteen, Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj.
The FBI is said to be investigating the hack - the latest cyber extortion after HBO, Zoom and the Texas Court system were victims of similar attacks.
A source told the New York Post's Page Six: “The hackers got into the system while everyone was focused on the coronavirus.
"We assume, but there is no confirmation, that the hackers are Eastern European. They are demanding a $21million ransom, and the firm is not negotiating with them.”
The source added of showbiz attorney Allen Grubman: “His firm has sensitive details on everything — work contracts, confidential settlements and endorsement deals for the biggest stars in New York and Hollywood.”
Musicians represented by the firm include Barry Manilow, Barbra Streisand, Lil Nas X, The Weeknd, U2 and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Other clients listed are ex-boxer Mike Tyson, basketball star LeBron James and actors Priyanka Chopra and Sofia Vergara.
It also represents Sony Corporation and video games studio Activision.
The law firm said in a statement: “We can confirm that we’ve been victimized by a cyber attack.
"We have notified our clients and our staff. We have hired the world’s experts who specialize in this area, and we are working around the clock to address these matters.”
A spokesperson for Grubman’s law firm added: “Their clients have expressed overwhelming support as they understand the firm is the latest high-profile victim of this global extortion scheme.”
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The hackers are reportedly known as REvil or Sodinokibi.
In January they attacked foreign exchange company Travelex with malware that encrypts data until a ransom is paid in untraceable cryptocurrency bitcoin.
In 2014, a different group of hackers believed to be working with North Korea hacked Sony Pictures.
They later released confidential files including embarrassing emails written by studio bosses about their movies.
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