LockBit 3.0, the hacking group responsible for taking down Fulton County's websites in Georgia, is now threatening to publish documents from the government's court system - including those related to the criminal case against Donald Trump - unless it receives a ransom. The group initially set a ransom deadline for Thursday, February 29, and has since moved it up to 8:49 a.m. Eastern time on that day, according to cybersecurity reporter Christopher Krebs.

LockBit 3.0, led by a hacker using the pseudonym LockBitSupp, had been inactive after a law enforcement raid on February 20, where 34 of its servers were taken down by a group of agencies, including the FBI and the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency. Despite this setback, the group resurfaced with renewed ransom demands and claims of backup copies of documents taken from Fulton County's government website.

The ultimate deadline for payment remains unclear, and the group's demands are often negotiated in private, as stated by Dan Schiappa, the chief product officer at cybersecurity firm Arctic Wolf. LockBit 3.0 has targeted over 2,000 victims over the years and obtained over $120 million in ransom funds, according to the Justice Department. Its recent targets include companies and organizations such as Boeing and the United Kingdom's mail service.

While the hacking group claims to be "completely apolitical," recent messages posted by LockBit 3.0 express support for Trump and criticism towards Biden. The group's affiliation with the Russian cybercrime scene adds complexity to the situation, with motives being hard to discern due to collaborations with various affiliates.

Despite the renewed ransom threat, Fulton County officials have maintained that they will not pay the ransom. This stance has faced challenges as the hack has taken on a national spotlight due to charges against Trump, with LockBit's actions potentially influencing the ongoing criminal case. LockBit's reputation has been severely damaged following the recent law enforcement actions against the group, with efforts to rebuild its image and establish new partnerships facing obstacles.