Hackers who breached ION say ransom paid

(Reuters) — The hackers who claimed responsibility for a disruptive breach at financial data company ION Group say a ransom has been paid, although they declined to say how much it was or offer any evidence that the money had been handed over.

ION declined to comment on the statement. Lockbit communicated the claim to Reuters via its online chat account on Friday but declined to clarify who had paid the money, saying it had come from a “very rich unknown philanthropist.”

The Lockbit representative said there was “no way” it would offer further details.

The FBI did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Britain's National Cyber Security Agency told Reuters it had no comment.

The ransomware outbreak that erupted at ION on Tuesday has disrupted trading and clearing of exchange-traded financial derivatives, causing problems for scores of brokers, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.