In a series of ransomware payment negotiations last December, operatives from a gang known as “Egregor” alternated from treating their victims with surprising civility, and behaving like cartoonish movie villains.
“The Egregor Team wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” they’d say at intervals of their chat room communications, sometimes in the middle of an extortion back-and-forth. “We wish you wisdom in your decision making and financial stability in this difficult time for us all. Happy Holidays!”