News-Press & Gazette Co. Listed by termite Ransomware Group: Ransomware Claim — What’s Alleged & What To Do

Ransomware groups continue to target media and communications firms as part of a broader pattern of double-extortion attacks, in which data is stolen and then used as leverage. Against that backdrop, News-Press & Gazette Co. appeared on a leak site operated by the group known as termite, according to public listings dated 26 September 2025. The listing asserts that internal files were taken during a ransomware incident; the number of people affected remains unknown, and independent confirmation of the full scope has not been released.

For an organisation that publishes newspapers, operates broadcast stations and supplies cable, internet and telephone services, any such claim raises immediate questions about the security of operational and customer-related records. Public detail is limited to the group’s own assertion and the basic company description, so the precise impact is still unconfirmed.

Inside the incident

On 26 September 2025, News-Press & Gazette Co. was listed by the termite ransomware group. The only data category named in available records is “internal files exfiltrated in ransomware attack.” No figure for the volume of data, no timeline of the intrusion, and no technical description of the initial access method have been disclosed. The number of individuals whose information may have been involved is recorded as unknown. Because the listing originates from the threat actor’s site, it constitutes a claim rather than a verified forensic finding. No further statements from the company or independent investigators appear in the public record at the time of writing.

The group behind it: termite

Termite is a ransomware operation that follows the now-common double-extortion model: encrypting systems while simultaneously removing copies of data and threatening to publish them if a ransom is not paid. Like other groups of this type, it maintains a leak site on which it posts the names of organisations it claims to have compromised, often accompanied by sample files or file-tree listings. Public reporting on termite has documented its use of standard ransomware tooling, affiliate-style recruitment of initial-access brokers, and a focus on mid-sized enterprises across multiple sectors. Nothing in the available facts indicates that termite made any additional specific claims about News-Press & Gazette Co. beyond the listing itself and the assertion that internal files were taken. All statements about this particular victim should therefore be treated as the group’s unverified claims.

About News-Press & Gazette Co.

News-Press & Gazette Company, established in 1845 and headquartered in St. Joseph, Missouri, publishes daily newspapers and weekly publications. It also provides cable, internet and digital telephone services, operates commercial printing facilities, and runs television and radio stations. Organisations of this kind routinely hold subscriber account data, advertising contracts, employee records, content archives and network-management information. Because the company sits at the intersection of local journalism, broadcasting and telecommunications, a successful intrusion could affect both the integrity of its news operations and the privacy of customers who rely on its connectivity services. The age and regional footprint of the firm make any confirmed compromise consequential for the communities it serves.

What data was at risk

The only category explicitly named is internal files said to have been exfiltrated. No inventory of those files—whether they include customer billing records, employee personal data, source material, network diagrams or other materials—has been published. Media and telecommunications companies typically store names, addresses, contact details, payment information, service-usage logs and internal correspondence. In the absence of a confirmed disclosure, it is not possible to state which of these, if any, were among the files claimed by termite. The exact contents therefore remain unconfirmed.

Why it matters

If internal files were indeed removed, individuals whose data appear in those files could face risks of identity fraud, targeted phishing or unwanted contact. Employees might see payroll or personnel information misused; subscribers could experience account-takeover attempts. For the organisation itself, the incident raises operational concerns: potential disruption of publishing and broadcast schedules, reputational damage among readers and viewers, and the cost of forensic investigation and system recovery. Because the company also supplies internet and telephone services, any compromise of network-management data could have secondary effects on service reliability. These consequences remain potential rather than proven, given that the scale and precise contents of the claimed exfiltration are still unknown.

Were you affected?

If you are a current or former employee, subscriber or business partner of News-Press & Gazette Co., treat any unexpected communications that reference the company with caution. Monitor financial and credit accounts for unusual activity, enable multi-factor authentication on email and service logins, and consider placing a fraud alert with the major credit bureaus. Readers can also run a free exposure scan of their email address to check whether that address has already appeared in known breach data sets. Until more detailed confirmation is released, these steps remain prudent precautions rather than responses to a fully documented compromise.

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