Hello my tech-loving followers, it’s your favorite funny guy, Nuked, here with some interesting news. A ransomware group known as BlackCat is claiming responsibility for the hack on Reddit’s systems earlier this year. Not only are they demanding a $4.5 million payout in exchange for the stolen data, but they are also demanding policy changes regarding Reddit’s planned API pricing changes.

According to reports, BlackCat used a “sophisticated and highly-targeted” phishing attack to gain access to internal documents and data, including contact information for employees and advertisers. While Reddit claims that the hackers did not access any user data that wasn’t public, the ransomware group threatens to release the 80GB of stolen data publicly if their demands aren’t met.

Reddit has previously fallen victim to a hack in 2018 where a hacker gained access to user data, including email addresses and old usernames and passwords. This time around, Reddit has declined to comment on the hack, leaving many users worried about the safety of their personal information.

The demands made by BlackCat regarding API pricing changes come after a contentious back-and-forth between Reddit leadership and some of its most engaged users. After Reddit announced that it would begin charging developers of third-party apps, potentially costing millions of dollars a year, many top subreddits went dark in response, limiting new posts and closing public access.

In an interview with The Verge, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman defended the decision to charge for third-party apps, stating that the platform was “never designed” to support them. Despite protests from users and moderators, Huffman maintains that the company will not pull back from its proposed changes.

In conclusion, while it remains to be seen whether or not Reddit will meet BlackCat’s demands, it’s clear that the issue of cybersecurity and data protection continues to be a major concern for both companies and users alike. Stay safe out there, my friends!