{
  "id": 232587,
  "title": "Hackers targeted US private equity, other firms including Blackstone, CME, data shows",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/hackers-targeted-us-private-equity-other-firms-including-blackstone",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-06T19:12:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Economic Times Tech",
    "slug": "economic-times-tech",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/hackers-targeted-us-private-equity-other-firms-including-blackstone-cme-data-shows/articleshow/133015091.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Over the past month, hackers targeted dozens of prominent U.S. financial institutions and businesses, including private equity firms such as Blackstone, Bridgewater Associates, Apollo Global Management, Bain Capital, KKR, TPG, and CME Group. According to Google and internet intelligence data reviewed by Reuters, the hackers used phone calls to compromise their victims and created websites aimed at stealing passwords from employees. Google, a unit of Alphabet, stated that the hackers operated under various names, including Redact, Pink, Falcon, and Helix. In some cases, companies reportedly paid ransoms to the hackers. Experts attribute the success of these hacks to the use of low-tech tactics, such as phone calls, which still prove to be highly effective despite advanced security programs and AI-driven threats.",
  "summary": "Hackers targeting U.S. financial institutions and private equity firms have been using phone calls, along with low-tech tactics, to compromise their victims. The hackers have targeted dozens of prominent U.S. financial institutions and businesses, including Blackstone, Bridgewater Associates, Apollo Global Management, Bain Capital, KKR, TPG, CME Group, and Moody's. Google, a unit of Alphabet, reported that the hackers operate under various names, such as Redact, Pink, Falcon, and Helix. These hackers target industries based on financial calculations, often successfully, as they believe the firms or organizations have sensitive data that, if taken, would result in a ransom payment. Google also noted that the hackers use meticulous social engineering tactics, such as impersonating IT help desk representatives on personal cellphones to demand urgent passkey or multifactor authentication updates.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Economic Times Tech",
        "title": "Hackers targeted US private equity, other firms including Blackstone, CME, data shows",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/hackers-targeted-us-private-equity-other-firms-including-blackstone",
        "published": "2026-08-07T03:00:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}