Forbes

Forbes, a globally recognized media and publishing company, experienced a **403 Access Denied** error on its platform (`next-hop.forbes.com`), indicating a potential **cybersecurity incident**—likely a **DDoS attack, unauthorized access attempt, or misconfigured security controls**. The error message suggests the session was forcibly terminated, which may imply an active defensive measure against a breach or attack. While no explicit data leak or ransomware was confirmed, the disruption aligns with **service outages** that could harm reputation, user trust, or operational continuity. If the incident stemmed from a **cyber attack targeting infrastructure**, it might have temporarily blocked legitimate users, impacting ad revenue, subscriber access, or content delivery. The reference to an IP (`159.180.120.250`) and session ID hints at a **targeted or automated intrusion attempt**, though the lack of further details prevents confirming data exfiltration or systemic damage. Given Forbes’ high-profile status, even short-lived disruptions can trigger **financial losses (advertising, subscriptions)** and **reputational erosion**, especially if users perceive the platform as vulnerable. No evidence suggests **physical harm, war-level threats, or existential risks**, but the incident underscores the **growing targeting of media outlets** by threat actors for disruption or espionage.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateoflahertyuk/2025/02/10/was-cisco-just-hit-by-ransomware-what-happened-and-what-to-do/

TPRM report: https://www.rankiteo.com/company/forbes-magazine

"id": "for819090225",
"linkid": "forbes-magazine",
"type": "Cyber Attack",
"date": "2/2025",
"severity": "60",
"impact": "2",
"explanation": "Attack limited on finance or reputation"

{'affected_entities': [{'industry': 'Digital Publishing / Business News',
                        'name': 'Forbes',
                        'type': 'Media Organization'}],
 'customer_advisories': 'Contact support for further information (as per error '
                        'message).',
 'description': 'Access denied (403) error encountered on next-hop.forbes.com. '
                'Current session terminated abruptly. Reference ID: '
                '159.180.120.250 1756801083. Users advised to contact support '
                'for further information.',
 'impact': {'brand_reputation_impact': 'Potential negative perception due to '
                                       'service disruption',
            'operational_impact': 'Session termination for users attempting to '
                                  'access the service',
            'systems_affected': ['next-hop.forbes.com']},
 'investigation_status': 'Unclear; users advised to contact support',
 'references': [{'source': 'Forbes Access Denial Error Page',
                 'url': 'http://next-hop.forbes.com'}],
 'response': {'communication_strategy': 'Users directed to contact support for '
                                        'further information'},
 'type': 'Access Denial / Session Termination'}