- Hopper developments have been listed on a dark website that is associated with the Qilin ransomware group.
- The attackers are saying they have access to company information and will publish it if their demand for contact is not met.
- This incident is an example of cybersecurity risk and the underrepresentation of the cyber narrative across NZ’s business community.
Through a list containing victims of a ransomware operation, a Kiwi property developer has now become associated with the Dark Net.
Concerns about the level of data security for businesses within the cyber sector are at an all-time high. Authorities continue to scrutinize this incident heavily until they verify a breach.
Hopper Developments Listed on Ransomware Cache
Hopper Developments is located in Orewa and engaged in the areas of Civil Engineering and Property Development. Hopper has appeared on a Dark Web site associated with the Qilin Ransomware Syndicate.
The listing indicates that the attackers are claiming to have gained access to Hopper’s computer systems or data.
As is common for ransomware leak sites, the Qilin Ransomware Syndicate threatened to publicly disseminate any data in their possession if someone from the company did not contact them through the proper channels.
At this point in time, all accusations directed toward the company Hopper Development are based solely upon the announcement from a known criminal entity known as the Qilin Ransomware Group.
However, no medium has received any responses to requests for information from Hopper Developments.
Who is The Qilin Ransomware Group?
The Ransomware Group Qilin uses Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) for the Distribution of ransom.
The group has operated since 2022 and, according to open-source reports, has targeted over 1,200 known victims worldwide.
The majority of the group’s activity has occurred in North America and Australia. For example, in 2025, the Qilin Ransomware Group listed several Australian organizations on its leak site.
Cyber Incidents are Widespread in Australia and New Zealand
Australia and New Zealand experience a high prevalence of cyber activity, as evidenced by the recent listing of Hopper Developments.
According to a global study commissioned by Arctic Wolf, a Cybersecurity firm, 85% of organizations that participated reported at least one cyber incident in the past year, compared to the global average of 76%.
Industry experts say that many cases, such as Hopper Developments, may only represent a small portion of what actually occurs in New Zealand.
Many organizations handle cyber incidents internally or resolve them through outside incident response companies, so these cases often never reach the public domain.
The Hidden Problem of Underreporting
Organizations publicly report only a tiny fraction of cyber incidents, as many occur behind closed doors and go unreported, with numerous cases resolved through undisclosed ransom payments. In a similar recent case, the ransomware gang behind the attack on Money Mart threatened to leak 80,000 financial files on the dark web, highlighting how these threats often play out away from public scrutiny.
That means that business leaders and insurers are dealing with incomplete information about the number of cyber incidents that occur and, therefore, cannot accurately assess cyber risk.
As insurance brokers rely on actual incident data when pricing their policies or setting maximum coverage limits, if most incidents are hidden from public view, it makes it difficult for them to accurately price insurance coverage.
Importance of this Case
Regardless of whether Hopper Developments confirms a breach, having appeared on a ransomware list shows the reality of today’s cyber environment; Cyber Incidents are common.
These Ransomware Groups have become increasingly sophisticated, and the number of publicly reported incidents is only scratching the surface of what really exists in the online world. In a notable shift, some victims are now pursuing legal action; a recent case saw a UK hospital sue a ransomware gang to block the sale of patient data on the dark web, signaling a more aggressive defensive stance.
For businesses: Cyber risk is no longer just for large businesses/technology companies. To the broader marketplace: There are numerous challenges ahead in establishing more transparency and preparing for a time when many types of cyber attacks occur.
