Gitlabs: Synelixis Solutions, INGV, VMO Holdings Listed by fog Ransomware Group: Ransomware Claim — What’s Alleged & What To Do

On February 26, 2025, the ransomware group known as fog listed Gitlabs: Synelixis Solutions, INGV, VMO Holdings on its leak site, claiming a ransomware attack in which internal files were exfiltrated. The number of people affected remains unknown, and public detail on the precise scope of the incident is limited. The listing groups several names that appear to refer to distinct organisations, adding a layer of uncertainty about exactly which systems or entities were involved.

What is known so far is confined to the group's claim of a successful ransomware operation and the removal of internal files. No independent confirmation of the breach's full extent, timing of intrusion, or ransom demand has been made public. For anyone connected to these organisations, the listing raises practical questions about whether personal or operational data may have been among the material taken.

Inside the incident

The sole public marker of the incident is the February 26, 2025 listing by fog. According to that claim, the group carried out a ransomware attack and exfiltrated internal files. No further technical details—such as the initial access method, the duration of the intrusion, the volume of data removed, or whether encryption was deployed—have been disclosed. The number of people affected is listed as unknown. Public reporting has not confirmed whether any ransom was paid, whether systems were restored, or whether the organisations have issued statements acknowledging the event. The facts available stop at the group's assertion that internal files were taken during a ransomware attack.

Inside fog

Fog is a ransomware group that has operated since approximately mid-2024, employing a double-extortion model: encrypting victim systems while also stealing data and threatening to publish it if payment is not made. The group maintains a leak site on which it posts the names of organisations it claims to have compromised, often accompanied by samples or full archives of stolen material. Fog has targeted a range of sectors, including manufacturing, technology, professional services and public-sector entities, typically gaining access through common vectors such as compromised credentials or unpatched remote-access services. Its operations follow the pattern of many contemporary ransomware crews: rapid encryption, data exfiltration, and public pressure via the leak site. In this case the listing of Gitlabs: Synelixis Solutions, INGV, VMO Holdings constitutes the group's claim; no independent verification of the specific intrusion has been published.

Who is Gitlabs: Synelixis Solutions, INGV, VMO Holdings?

The name under which the listing appears combines several entities that public records treat as separate. GitLab is a widely used web-based DevOps platform that provides source-code management, continuous integration and collaboration tools for software development teams. Synelixis Solutions is an information-technology firm that supplies hardware and software solutions. INGV, the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, is an Italian research body focused on seismic, volcanic and geophysical monitoring. VMO Holdings is a private holding company. The combined listing therefore appears to aggregate distinct organisations rather than a single corporate identity. Organisations of these types routinely hold source code, research data, employee records, contractual documents and operational systems. A ransomware claim against any of them carries potential consequences for research continuity, software supply chains, or corporate operations, depending on which systems were actually affected.

The information in question

The facts state that internal files were exfiltrated in the ransomware attack. No more granular inventory—such as employee personal data, customer records, source-code repositories, scientific datasets or financial documents—has been publicly itemised. For organisations of the kinds listed, typical holdings include source code and project files (in the case of a DevOps platform or IT solutions firm), research observations and institutional records (in the case of a geophysical institute), and corporate administrative material (in the case of a holding company). Because the precise contents remain unconfirmed, it is not possible to state with certainty what categories of information left the network. The only confirmed description is the generic claim of “internal files.”

Why it matters

When internal files are removed in a ransomware incident, the practical risks include unauthorised disclosure of proprietary or sensitive material, potential identity-related harm if personal data were among the files, and operational disruption if systems remain encrypted or if recovery is incomplete. For research bodies, loss of control over scientific data can impede ongoing monitoring programmes. For technology and software organisations, exposure of source code or infrastructure details can create secondary security risks for customers and partners. Individuals whose contact or employment information may have been stored face the ordinary hazards of phishing, social engineering or credential stuffing if that material later appears in criminal markets. The organisation itself may incur remediation costs, regulatory scrutiny and reputational damage, though none of these outcomes has been confirmed in the present case. The absence of a published count of affected people simply means the scale of personal impact cannot yet be measured.

Were you affected?

If you have an account, employment relationship or research collaboration with any of the named entities, treat the listing as a prompt to review your own exposure. Change passwords on related accounts, enable multi-factor authentication where available, and monitor financial and email accounts for unusual activity. Organisations that hold your data should be contacted through official channels for any guidance they may issue. Readers can also run a free exposure scan of their email address to check whether that address has already appeared in known breach datasets; such a scan provides one additional data point but does not confirm or rule out involvement in this specific incident.

AICompiled with AI assistance from public sources and published under our editorial standards.