Rambler, founded in 1996, is one of Russia's oldest and most popular online portals. The platform offers a range of services, including news, entertainment, email, and online storage. With millions of registered users, Rambler has become an integral part of Russian online culture. Its significance extends beyond its user base, as Rambler is also a major player in the Russian online advertising market.

The hacker could control users’ email sending. Fact: They had read access, not full SMTP auth. However, they could reset passwords and lock out owners.

Then came the letter. Not to the press. To Volkov personally, delivered via internal company mail—a paper envelope on his desk one morning. Inside: a USB drive and a note.