Ransomware: Deadlock claims VBW Makelaars and Taxateurs (NL) — Business Services

On July 10, 2026, a ransomware incident involving the group Deadlock was reported against VBW Makelaars and Taxateurs, a Dutch real estate and tax advisory firm. The breach was published on the ransomware.live leak site under the BREACH framework, indicating that the attackers have likely exfiltrated sensitive data and are threatening public disclosure. This event underscores a growing trend of ransomware attacks targeting professional services firms in the Netherlands, particularly those handling confidential client financial and property records.

The primary affected sector is business services, specifically real estate agencies and tax advisory firms operating in the Netherlands. However, any organization in the EU that processes high-value client data, such as legal, accounting, or consultancy firms, should consider this a relevant threat indicator. The attack pattern suggests that smaller to mid-sized professional service providers are increasingly being targeted due to their reliance on digital client portals and less mature cybersecurity defenses.

Compliance teams should immediately review their incident response and data breach notification procedures under GDPR, ensuring they can report to the relevant supervisory authority within 72 hours. Conduct a risk assessment to determine if your organization holds data that could be targeted by ransomware groups like Deadlock. Prioritize implementing multi-factor authentication, offline backups, and employee phishing awareness training. Finally, verify that your cyber insurance policy covers ransomware and extortion-related costs, and update your business continuity plan to account for prolonged system downtime.