Cyber Incident Victim: San Francisco 49ers
Date:
Feb 2022
Location:
United States of America
Summary
The San Francisco 49ers experienced a ransomware attack by the BlackByte gang, causing temporary disruption to portions of their corporate IT network. The attackers claimed responsibility and leaked a sample of allegedly stolen invoices, employing their typical tactic of incremental data leaks to pressure victims. While the organization did not confirm ransomware deployment, recovery efforts indicated potential system encryption. The 49ers initiated containment measures, engaged cybersecurity firms, and notified law enforcement, with investigations suggesting the incident was confined to corporate systems. BlackByte commonly exploits network vulnerabilities to breach targets, steal data, and encrypt systems.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 1 motive | 1 technique |
| Threat Actor | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 actor | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
On February 12, 2022, or shortly before, the San Francisco 49ers experienced a network security incident involving the BlackByte ransomware group. The organization detected unauthorized access to portions of its corporate IT network, resulting in temporary system disruptions. Upon discovery, the 49ers immediately launched an internal investigation and implemented containment measures to prevent further spread. They engaged third-party cybersecurity forensic experts to assist with the investigation and recovery efforts, while also notifying relevant law enforcement agencies. Although the team did not explicitly confirm ransomware deployment, their public statement about ongoing system recovery efforts strongly suggested that encryption of devices had occurred. The organization maintained that the incident appeared confined to corporate IT systems rather than operational football infrastructure.
BlackByte publicly claimed responsibility for the attack on February 12, 2022, releasing approximately 292MB of stolen data consisting of 2020 invoice documents. The group typically employs a double-extortion strategy, threatening incremental data leaks unless ransom demands are met. Forensic evidence indicated the attackers exploited unspecified network vulnerabilities for initial access, consistent with BlackByte's historical tactics of targeting unpatched systems. The incident occurred during preparations for Super Bowl LVI, though no direct operational impact on team performance or game participation was reported. The 49ers continued restoring affected corporate systems while maintaining that their investigation remained active to fully assess the compromise scope. No further data leaks beyond the initial invoice release were confirmed in subsequent public reporting about this incident.