Qilin Strikes Again: Tiger Communications Crippled in a Ruthless Cyber Siege
The Titans and the Tyrants
In the quiet corridors of telecom analytics, Tiger Communications plc has long been a silent powerhouse. Founded in 1979 in Ringwood, Hampshire, UK, the company began as a hardware innovator, building line-scanning equipment for legacy switchboards. By the mid-1980s, it had evolved into a software-driven enterprise, pioneering call management systems and telecom billing solutions for public institutions, universities, and multinational corporations. Its flagship platform, Tiger Prism, became a cornerstone for Unified Communications (UC) analytics, enabling organizations to monitor call traffic, detect fraud, and optimize collaboration across sprawling networks.
Tiger’s reputation was built on precision, reliability, and discretion. But in July 2025, that fortress of trust was breached.
The assailant? Qilin—a name that now echoes through the darkest corners of the internet.
Qilin is a Russian-speaking ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) syndicate, first surfacing in July 2022 under the alias Agenda. Since then, it has morphed into one of the most technically advanced and prolific ransomware operations in the world. Its malware is written in Rust and Golang, designed for cross-platform attacks that can cripple both Windows and Linux environments. Affiliates of Qilin earn up to 85% of ransom payments, incentivizing rapid deployment and aggressive targeting.
In the past six months, Qilin has launched a relentless campaign of over 80 confirmed ransomware attacks, with 72 victims recorded in April 2025 alone. Their targets span healthcare, government, manufacturing, and now—media and telecom. The group’s most infamous strike came in June 2024, when it demanded $50 million from Synnovis, a UK-based pathology provider, disrupting services across multiple NHS hospitals and leaking 400 GB of sensitive patient data.
Qilin’s tactics are brutal and efficient:
They exploit Fortinet vulnerabilities and VPN misconfigurations to gain initial access.
They deploy double-extortion schemes, encrypting data and threatening public leaks.
They use kernel-level exploits and EDR evasion tools to bypass security systems.
They automate attacks via a custom affiliate panel, complete with legal counsel for ransom negotiations.
Tiger Communications is now the latest victim in this digital war. And if history is any guide, the silence from its leadership may be the calm before a devastating data storm.
The Price of Silence
The full financial toll of the ransomware attack on Tiger Communications remains undisclosed. As of July 18, 2025, the company has not issued a public statement regarding the breach, nor confirmed whether ransom negotiations are underway. However, cybersecurity analysts estimate that the average cost of a ransomware attack in 2024 exceeded $4.91 million, factoring in ransom payments, operational downtime, data recovery, legal fees, and reputational damage.
Given Tiger’s size, client base, and the nature of its services—telecom analytics and fraud detection—industry experts suggest that the potential losses could range between $5 million and $12 million, depending on the extent of data exfiltration and system disruption. A report from Undercode News notes that Qilin typically demands payments between $500,000 and several million dollars, and warns that if Tiger does not respond by July 25, 2025, its files may be publicly leaked.
Meanwhile, the Qilin ransomware group has emerged as one of the most financially successful cybercrime syndicates of the year. According to Cybersecurity News, Qilin accumulated over $50 million in ransom payments throughout 2024 alone, with a single attack on Synnovis demanding $50 million and resulting in the leak of 900,000 patient records. Analysts estimate that in the first half of 2025, Qilin has already earned between $35 million and $45 million, based on leaked negotiation logs and affiliate payout structures.
Qilin’s business model is ruthlessly efficient:
Affiliates earn 80% of ransom payments under $3 million, and 85% for payments above that threshold.
The group operates a custom affiliate panel, complete with legal advisors and media consultants to pressure victims during negotiations.
Their infrastructure supports PB-scale data storage, automated spam tools, and even a “Call Lawyer” feature to intimidate victims with legal threats.
In short, Qilin isn’t just extorting companies—it’s running a cybercrime empire with the polish of a Fortune 500 firm.
Anatomy of an Attack — And the Defense That Could Have Stopped It
The Qilin ransomware group didn’t just breach Tiger Communications—they executed a multi-stage cyber siege with surgical precision. According to threat intelligence reports, Qilin’s tactics followed a familiar but devastating kill chain:
What Qilin Did
Initial Access
Exploited Fortinet SSL VPN vulnerabilities and misconfigured firewall clusters to infiltrate Tiger’s perimeter.
Used phishing emails and stolen credentials to bypass authentication systems.
Execution & Privilege Escalation
Deployed payloads via PowerShell scripts and command-line interpreters, often disguised as legitimate system files.
Leveraged Bring-Your-Own-Vulnerable-Driver (BYOVD) techniques to disable Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools.
Used Mimikatz modules to extract domain credentials and escalate privileges to SYSTEM level.
Lateral Movement & Impact
Spread laterally using PsExec, RDP, and SMB shares, modifying registry keys to maximize network reach.
Disabled Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) and deleted backups to prevent recovery.
Encrypted files using AES-256 CTR and ChaCha20, appending custom extensions like
.qilinand.agenda.
Tiger Communications, lacking a robust containment strategy, was left exposed.
How Cy-Napea® Could Have Prevented the Attack
Cy-Napea®, developed by Aurora Consolidated Ltd., offers a multi-layered cybersecurity framework designed to counter exactly this kind of threat. Here’s how it could have helped:
1. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Detects and isolates malicious processes like Qilin’s payloads before execution.
Monitors PowerShell and command-line activity for behavioral anomalies.
2. Extended Detection and Response (XDR)
Correlates threat signals across endpoints, networks, and cloud environments.
Flags lateral movement attempts and unauthorized access to domain controllers.
3. Anti-Ransomware & Backup Recovery
Automatically blocks encryption attempts and preserves immutable backups.
Offers one-click recovery, restoring infected systems within minutes.
4. Patch & Vulnerability Management
Identifies and remediates vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-27532 in Veeam Backup & Replication.
Ensures timely updates to VPNs, firewalls, and remote access tools.
5. Cybersecurity Awareness Training
Simulates phishing attacks and educates staff on social engineering tactics.
Reduces the risk of credential compromise and insider threats.
Cy-Napea® isn’t just a tool—it’s a digital fortress built for resilience.
Financial Disclosure
Estimated losses for Tiger Communications: Between $5 million and $12 million, based on industry benchmarks and the scale of disruption.
Estimated earnings for Qilin ransomware group: Between $35 million and $45 million in the first half of 2025 alone.
These figures are based on public threat intelligence and forensic analysis. Tiger Communications has not officially disclosed financial damages or confirmed ransom negotiations.
Verified Sources
