In late August 2025, the hacker group LunaLock announced a brazen attack on Artists&Clients, a popular platform connecting independent illustrators with clients.
The group claimed to have breached the site’s security, stealing all data and encrypting its servers. In exchange for the removal of the stolen information and the provision of decryption keys, LunaLock is demanding a hefty ransom of $50,000.
The hackers have issued a chilling warning: if the ransom is not paid, they will publish the stolen data on a Tor network site.
This move could expose sensitive information, potentially leading to legal repercussions for the platform’s administrators under data protection laws such as the GDPR in the European Union.
Adding a sinister twist to the extortion, LunaLock has threatened to hand over the artists’ works and user data to AI companies. This novel tactic increases the pressure on Artists&Clients to comply, as the unauthorized use of creative content in AI training datasets could have long-lasting implications for the affected artists, devaluing their intellectual property and exposing their portfolios to exploitation.
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Since the breach, Artists&Clients has remained offline, leaving its community of artists and clients in limbo. The incident highlights the growing vulnerability of digital platforms and raises questions about the evolving tactics of cybercriminals, who are now leveraging AI as a weapon in their schemes. As the situation unfolds, the art community awaits a resolution, while the broader implications of this attack on digital security and creative rights remain a pressing concern.
