Fast Facts

• Victim: Quinn Jay Patent, targeted by the Pear ransomware group
• Attack estimated on November 13, 2025; publicized four days later
• Pear is a prominent ransomware gang known for data theft and extortion
• Incident surfaced via Ransomfeed and indexed by ransomware.live
• Legal notice: No stolen data distributed by reporting sources

Into the Shadows: Another Name on the Ransom List

In the ever-churning digital underworld, a new victim has surfaced: Quinn Jay Patent. The name was splashed onto Pear’s public extortion page this week, a grim trophy in the ongoing ransomware war. Like a pirate crew hoisting their colors atop a captured vessel, Pear announced its conquest - prompting fresh concern for businesses in the crosshairs of cybercriminals.

Pear’s Modus Operandi: Inside the Playbook

Pear is no rookie to the ransomware scene. Emerging in the past few years, this group has built a reputation for quietly infiltrating networks, encrypting critical files, and then demanding hefty ransoms - often in cryptocurrency. Their strategy often follows a double extortion model: not only do they lock up the victim’s data, but they threaten to leak sensitive information unless paid.

The attack on Quinn Jay Patent, first discovered by ransomware.live, fits the pattern. Initial indications point to a breach on November 13, 2025, with Pear quickly moving to publicize their success. While the details of the hack remain sparse, the group’s public leak site typically includes screenshots and samples as proof, putting further pressure on victims to comply.

Patterns and Precedents: Ransomware’s Relentless March

This incident echoes a broader trend: ransomware attacks targeting organizations involved in intellectual property, patents, and research. In recent years, similar groups like LockBit and BlackCat have targeted law firms, research institutions, and patent agencies, seeking not just financial gain but sometimes valuable trade secrets. According to a 2024 report by Chainalysis, ransomware payments exceeded $1.1 billion globally last year, underscoring the massive scale of this digital extortion racket.

The motivations often go beyond money. Stolen patent information can be sold or leveraged by competitors or nation-states seeking an edge in the innovation race. While there’s no public evidence yet of such motives in this case, the targeting of a patent-related entity raises pressing questions about the intersection of cybercrime, corporate espionage, and global competition.

Technical Tactics: How Ransomware Works

Ransomware attacks usually begin with a simple trick: a phishing email or a compromised password opens the door. Once inside, attackers move laterally, spreading their malware like ink through water, ultimately locking up files and exfiltrating data. The victim is then confronted with a digital ransom note - pay up, or face public exposure and lasting damage.

WIKICROOK

• Ransomware: Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts or locks data, demanding payment from victims to restore access to their files or systems.
• Double Extortion: Double extortion is a ransomware tactic where attackers both encrypt files and steal data, threatening to leak the data if the ransom isn’t paid.
• Phishing: Phishing is a cybercrime where attackers send fake messages to trick users into revealing sensitive data or clicking malicious links.
• Encryption: Encryption transforms readable data into coded text to prevent unauthorized access, protecting sensitive information from cyber threats and prying eyes.
• Exfiltration: Exfiltration is the unauthorized transfer of sensitive data from a victim’s network to an external system controlled by attackers.