From blog.malwarebytes.com
You’ve heard about ransomware, where attackers lock up your files and demand a payment for the decryption key. You may also have heard about ransomware attackers not only locking up your files, but also threatening to release the stolen data in an attempt to get you to pay up.
What you may not have heard about is a relatively new tactic that ransomware attackers are using. Recent reports say attackers are using the stolen data to contact individuals (by social media, email or phone) that have been compromised in the attack.