HE2B Listed by fog Ransomware Group: Ransomware Claim — What’s Alleged & What To Do

When a ransomware group publicly lists an organisation, the immediate concern for anyone connected to it is straightforward: whether personal or professional information has been taken and what that could mean in daily life. In the case of HE2B, the listing by the group known as fog raises practical questions about the security of internal records and the potential exposure of people who work with, study at, or otherwise interact with the organisation. Public reporting so far leaves the scale of any impact unclear, which itself creates uncertainty for those who may be affected.

What is known is limited but concrete. On 30 January 2025, HE2B appeared in reporting tied to a fog ransomware listing that described the exfiltration of internal files. No confirmed figure for the number of people affected has been released, and further technical detail remains sparse. That combination of a claimed data theft and incomplete public information is why the incident warrants careful attention rather than speculation.

Breaking down the breach

According to available reporting dated 30 January 2025, HE2B was listed by the fog ransomware group in connection with a ransomware attack in which internal files were said to have been exfiltrated. The reported summary associated with the listing is brief: an extract referencing Gitlabs that also names Prasaga and Kombinat alongside HE2B. No further breakdown of the attack timeline, the precise method of initial access, the volume of data taken, or any ransom demand has been disclosed in the public record provided.

The number of people affected is listed as unknown. The only data category named is “internal files exfiltrated in ransomware attack.” Whether the listing reflects a completed compromise, a partial intrusion, or a claim that has not been independently verified is not established by the available facts. In short, the public picture consists of a ransomware-group claim of file theft, a reporting date, and very little else that can be stated as confirmed.

Who is fog?

Fog is a ransomware operation that has been observed conducting double-extortion attacks: encrypting systems while also stealing data and threatening to publish it if demands are not met. Like many contemporary ransomware groups, fog maintains a leak site on which it lists claimed victims and, in some cases, posts samples or larger archives of stolen material. Public tracking of the group has noted activity against organisations in multiple sectors, typically following a pattern of network intrusion, data staging, exfiltration, and then encryption or the threat of encryption.

In this instance the group claims HE2B as a victim and asserts that internal files were taken. That claim should be treated as an unverified assertion originating from the threat actor’s own listing rather than as independently confirmed fact. No statements attributed to fog beyond the listing itself appear in the provided record, and no confirmation from HE2B or third-party investigators is included in the facts at hand.

HE2B and its sector

HE2B is the organisation named in the listing. Public detail about its precise structure and operations is limited in the breach record itself; however, entities bearing this name operate in higher education and related professional training in Belgium. Organisations of this type routinely manage student and staff records, academic and administrative files, research materials, financial and contractual documents, and internal communications. They also interact with partner institutions, suppliers, and public bodies, which can expand the range of data they hold.

A breach involving such an organisation is consequential because educational and training institutions sit at the intersection of personal data, professional credentials, and institutional operations. Even when the exact contents of any stolen archive remain unconfirmed, the mere possibility that internal files have left the organisation’s control creates lasting risk for the people whose information may be among those files and for the continuity of the institution’s own work.

What was likely exposed

The facts state only that internal files were exfiltrated in a ransomware attack. No inventory of file types, no sample listings, and no confirmation of specific categories such as personal identifiers, financial records, or academic data have been published in the material provided. The number of individuals potentially involved is unknown.

Organisations in the higher-education and professional-training sector typically hold a mix of personal data (names, contact details, identification numbers, academic histories), employment and HR files, financial and procurement records, and internal operational documents. It is reasonable to note that these categories are common, yet it would be inaccurate to assert that any particular type was present in the material claimed by fog. The exact contents remain unconfirmed; only the broad description “internal files” is on record.

The real-world impact

For individuals, the practical risks centre on the possible misuse of any personal or professional information that may have been taken. That can include targeted phishing that references real internal details, attempts at identity fraud, or the quiet resale of contact and credential data. Because the volume and precise nature of the files are undisclosed, the level of risk for any single person cannot be quantified from public information alone.

For HE2B the consequences include operational disruption if systems were encrypted, the cost and complexity of investigation and recovery, potential regulatory notification obligations, and longer-term reputational and trust effects with students, staff, and partners. Even when a ransomware claim is not independently verified, the organisation must still assess whether data left its environment and what protective steps are required. Uncertainty itself imposes a burden: people connected to HE2B have limited official detail with which to judge their own exposure.

If your data was in this claimed breach

If you have a current or past relationship with HE2B—as a student, staff member, contractor, or partner—treat the listing as a prompt to take basic protective steps. Monitor financial and academic accounts for unexpected activity, enable multi-factor authentication wherever it is available, and be cautious of unsolicited messages that appear to reference the organisation or request urgent action. Change passwords on any accounts that may have reused credentials linked to HE2B systems, and consider placing fraud alerts with relevant credit or identity services if you believe sensitive identifiers could be involved.

Because the full scope of the claimed exfiltration is not public, it is also useful to check whether your email address has already appeared in other known breach data sets. Free exposure-scan tools can search large collections of previously leaked credentials and personal information and give an early indication of whether your details are circulating. Keep records of any suspicious contact, and follow official guidance issued by HE2B or relevant data-protection authorities as it becomes available. Calm, methodical steps remain the most effective response while further facts are still limited.

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