The FBI is ramping up an investigation into a group of hackers known for stealing data and holding it for ransom for up to millions of dollars.
The group, known as Lapsus$, has been hitting companies overseas as well as government bodies, like the Brazilian Health Ministry.
Now it's striking fear into the hearts of many tech companies in Silicon Valley, including one just earlier this month, for stealing sensitive data.
And the FBI is asking for anyone with information to come forward.
They've been asking for between hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars, Elvis Chan, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the cyber branch at FBI San Francisco.
But it's not a good idea to meet the hackers' demands, according to Chan. "It is typically a sucker's bet – in our experience if you pay the ransom, they will typically come around and ask you for a second ransom," he said. "And even if you pay that ransom, they may or may not expose your data, since they already have it."
This tactic is known as data extortion. Usually the data at risk is sensitive, such as software code, trade secrets, other proprietary information or customer information.
As of right now it's believed the group is located overseas but does not have ties to Russia.
"That's not to say this group isn't dangerous and it isn't victimizing people," said Chan. "But at this point, I don't see a connection between this group and the Russian Federation."
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