Advanced Technology Ventures was hit by a ransomware attack that stole the personal information about its investors and limited partners (LPs) in July.
ATV is a Silicon Valley venture capital firm handling more than $1.8 billion.
ATV reported to the Maine attorney general’s office that on July 9, they found out they were hit by a ransomware attack that encrypted its servers and prevented them from accessing any financial information.
By July 26, the ATV learned that data from its servers had been stolen. Then, the ransomware group that attacked the firm tried to extort money from the victim.
In a letter, the company said that the following investors’ personal information was stolen in an attack: the names, email addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers. Over 300 individuals were affected by a data breach.
Many venture capital firms do not wish to disclose the names of their limited partners (LPs) or investors to the public. These are the individuals who have thrown millions of dollars in investments. A number of pre-approved company names may be disclosed, but overall, their private investors would like to keep their information private.
Similarly, many companies choose to keep their secrets private and do not talk openly about their operations and who is backing them.
The recent attack has most likely resulted in the disclosure of such information.
In response to an attack on its network, ATV said it notified the FBI, according to TechCrunch.
Menlo Park, California-based VC firm ATV is focused on technology, communications, and healthcare technology. It was an early investor in many startups from the last decade, such as Fandango, Host Analytics (now Planfun), and Apptegic (now Evergage).
Its more recent investments include such companies as Tripwire, which was later sold to Belden, and Cedexis, which was acquired by Cisco in 2018.
