The 861 GB Heist: Everest Ransomware Hits McDonald’s India

Category: Data Extortion / PII Leak

The Golden Arches didn’t fall to malware. They fell to access.

On January 20, 2026, the Everest Ransomware Group—a Russian-speaking extortion collective—claimed a massive breach of McDonald’s India, exfiltrating 861 GB of sensitive data. There was no mass encryption and no dramatic shutdown. Instead, this was a silent, surgical removal of the company’s digital memory.

Illustration showing a silent cyberattack where attackers use valid access to exfiltrate 861 GB of McDonald’s India data, highlighting identity-based ransomware and HR data theft.


The Modern Heist: What Really Happened

In 2026, attackers don’t "break in"—they log in. This wasn't a ransomware attack in the traditional sense; it was a credential-driven heist.

1. Initial Access: Buying Trust, Not Exploits

Everest rarely relies on complex "Zero-Day" exploits. Their entry point is Valid Credentials.

  • The Access Market: They buy stolen VPN or SSO (Single Sign-On) credentials from dark web brokers.

  • The Insider Program: Everest openly runs an "insider recruitment" program, offering cash to employees willing to share their logins or approve MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) requests.

2. Living Inside: Privilege Without Noise

Once inside, Everest moves slowly. By using legitimate accounts and "Over-permissioned" roles, their activity looks like normal business to a security team. This is known as "Living off the Land"—using the company's own tools to steal its data.

3. Why HR Was the First Stop

Recent patterns show Everest has a preference for HR platforms like SAP SuccessFactors. Why? Because HR data is permanent. You can change a password, but you can’t change your passport scan, bank details, or birth certificate. This data fuels years of future identity theft and fraud.

The Everest Playbook (MITRE ATLAS Mapping)

Because this attack prioritizes extortion over encryption, we map it to the MITRE ATLAS framework for AI and modern digital threats:

MITRE ATLAS Tactic (Best-Fit Alignment)TechniqueHow It Applies
Initial AccessValid AccountsLogged in using stolen credentials or "bought" insider access.
ExecutionUser ExecutionTricking a user into approving an MFA push notification.
CollectionData from Information RepositoriesExporting HR and internal data via native system tools.
ExfiltrationExfiltration Over C2 ChannelQuiet, encrypted outbound transfers of 861 GB.
ImpactUnauthorized DisclosureThreatening to sell the "blueprint" of the network to other hackers.

Forensic Indicators: What to Hunt For

This attack leaves almost no traditional malware "footprints." Detection lives in Behavior, not signatures.

  • Identity Signals: Successful logins from new geographies or "MFA Fatigue" (a user getting hit with repeated requests until they hit 'Approve').

  • Privilege Abuse: HR or payroll systems being accessed at 3 AM by accounts that don't usually touch that data.

  • Data Staging: The creation of large .rar or .7z archives on servers that don’t normally compress data.

  • Exfiltration Patterns: Sustained outbound traffic to new or rarely used web destinations, often hidden in encrypted "TLS" tunnels.

Defending the Real Perimeter

For Organizations

  • Kill Passwords: Switch to hardware-backed Passkeys (like YubiKeys). If a credential can't be typed, an insider can't sell it.

  • Monitor Data Gravity: Don't just watch who logs in; watch what they take. Large exports should trigger an immediate "Kill Switch."

  • Harden HR Platforms: Bulk exports of employee data should require "Two-Person Authorization."

For Customers

  • The Identity Watch: If you use the McDonald's app, expect high-quality "vishing" (voice phishing) calls. Scammers will use your leaked order history to sound legitimate.

  • Password Reset: If you reused your app password for your email or bank, change it immediately.

The ZyberWalls Bottom Line

This is Ransomware 3.0. The attackers didn't break the firewall; they used the front door. In 2026, the most dangerous breach is the one that looks legitimate. The target is no longer the server—it’s the Human OS.

Stay Alert. Stay Human. Stay Safe. — ZyberWalls Research Team

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