The Kaspersky GERT has detected a VBS script that has been abusing Microsoft Windows features by modifying the system to lower the defenses and using the local MS BitLocker utility to encrypt entire drives and demand a ransom. #BitLocker #Data #Descriptions #Encryption #Incident #Malware #Microsoft #Ransomware #Technologies #Windows #response
Threat actors misusing Quick Assist in social engineering attacks leading to ransomware
Microsoft Threat Intelligence has observed Storm-1811 misusing the client management tool Quick Assist to target users in social engineering attacks that lead to malware like Qakbot followed by Black Basta ransomware deployment.
The report shares statistics and observations from incident response practice in 2023, analyzes trends and gives cybersecurity recommendations. #Cybersecurity #Incident #Internal #LockBit #Ransomware #Security #Statistics #Threats #response #services
Rapid7 has observed an ongoing campaign to distribute trojanized installers for WinSCP and PuTTY via malicious ads on commonly used search engines, where clicking on the ad leads to typo squatted domains.
Analysis of TargetCompany's Attacks Against MS-SQL Servers (Mallox, BlueSky Ransomware)
While monitoring attacks targeting MS-SQL servers, AhnLab SEcurity intelligence Center (ASEC) recently identified cases of the TargetCompany ransomware group installing the Mallox ransomware. The TargetCompany ransomware group primarily targets improperly managed MS-SQL servers to install the Mallox ransomware. While these attacks have been ongoing for several years, here we will outline the correlation between the newly identified malware and previous attack cases involving the distribution of the Tor2Mine CoinMiner and BlueSky ransomware.
French hospital CHC-SV refuses to pay LockBit extortion demand
The Hôpital de Cannes - Simone Veil (CHC-SV) in France announced it received a ransom demand from the Lockbit 3.0 ransomware gang, saying they refuse to pay the ransom.
The LockBit’s Attempt to Stay Relevant, Its Imposters and New Opportunistic Ransomware Groups
The Trellix Advanced Research Center has recently observed an uptick of LockBit-related cyber activity surrounding vulnerabilities in ScreenConnect. This surge suggests that despite the Law Enforcement's (LE) "Operation Cronos" aimed at dismantling LockBit's infrastructure, the ransomware operators somehow managed to survive and stay a float. It appears that the cybercriminals group behind LockBit ransomware partially restored their infrastructure and created an impression that the LE actions did not affect their normal operation. Concurrently, alongside the resurgence of LockBit's exploitation of ScreenConnect vulnerabilities, we have seen other threat actors have either impersonated LockBit ransomware or incorporated LockBit into their own cyber attack campaigns.
Ransomware payments drop to record low of 28% in Q1 2024
Ransomware actors have had a rough start this year, as stats from cybersecurity firm Coveware show that the trend of victims declining to pay the cybercriminals continues and has now reached a new record low of 28%.
'Crude' ransomware tools proliferating on the dark web for cheap, researchers find
Cheap ransomware is being sold for one-time use on dark web forums, allowing inexperienced freelancers to get into cybercrime without any interaction with affiliates. Researchers at the intelligence unit at the cybersecurity firm Sophos found 19 ransomware varieties being offered for sale or advertised as under development on four forums from June 2023 to February 2024.
Ransomware attack has cost UnitedHealth $872 million; total expected to surpass $1 billion
he ransomware attack on a company owned by healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group (UHG) has so far caused $872 million in losses, according to the corporation’s latest earnings report. UnitedHealth owns Change Healthcare, a key cog in the U.S. healthcare industry that was crippled by a ransomware attack in February. Change Healthcare and UHG subsidiary Optum took hundreds of systems offline as a result of the incident and faced criticism from the White House and Congress over its handling of the ransomware attack.
Leaked LockBit builder in a real-life incident response case | Securelist
Kaspersky researchers revisit the leaked LockBit 3.0 builder and share insights into a real-life incident involving a custom targeted ransomware variant created with this builder.
Ransomware gang’s new extortion trick? Calling the front desk
When a hacker called the company that his gang claimed to breach, he felt the same way that most of us feel when calling the front desk: frustrated. The phone call between the hacker, who claims to represent the ransomware gang DragonForce, and the victim company employee was posted by the ransomware gang on its dark web site in an apparent attempt to put pressure on the company to pay a ransom demand. In reality, the call recording just shows a somewhat hilarious and failed attempt to extort and intimidate a company’s rank-and-file employees.
Researchers discover new ransomware gang ‘Muliaka’ attacking Russian businesses
A previously unknown ransomware gang has been attacking Russian businesses with malware based on the leaked source code from the Conti hacking group. The gang, which researchers at the Moscow-based cybersecurity company F.A.C.C.T. have dubbed “Muliaka," or Muddy Water in English, has left minimal traces from its attacks but has likely been active since at least December 2023.
Claro Company, the largest telecom operator in Central and South America, disclosed being hit by ransomware. Representatives shared this information in response to the service disruptions in several regions. From the ransom note it becomes clear that the attackers are Trigona ransomware.
From OneNote to RansomNote: An Ice Cold Intrusion - The DFIR Report
In late February 2023, threat actors rode a wave of initial access using Microsoft OneNote files. In this case, we observed a threat actor deliver IcedID using this method. After loading IcedID and establishing persistence, there was no further actions, other than beaconing for over 30 days. The threat actor used Cobalt Strike and AnyDesk to target a file server and a backup server. * The threat actor used FileZilla to exfiltrate data from the network before deploying Nokoyawa ransomware.
Overview This week, the Sonicwall Capture Labs threat research team analyzed a ransomware calling itself Lighter Ransomware. Upon execution, it opens up a window with a countdown timer instructing the victim to reach out immediately […]
Change Healthcare ransomware attack disrupting industry nationwide
The reports keep coming in from across the country on how the Change Healthcare ransomware attack that first came to light on Feb. 21 has been impacting the healthcare sector. The case has been called the most severe cyberattack on the healthcare sector in history and has had a great impact since Change Healthcare, owned by UnitedHealth Group, processes 15 billion healthcare transactions annually, affecting 1 in 3 patient records.
Ransomware Recruitment Efforts Following Law Enforcement Disruption
In late 2023 and early 2024, the ransomware ecosystem experienced repeated disruption of its most prolific Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) groups at the hands of international Law Enforcement (LE). Alphv’s dark web data leak site was seized, then unseized, then re-seized in a December 2023 law enforcement operation that seemingly failed to deter the group – until AlphV ultimately claimed to disband via an apparent exit scam, immediately following a high-profile attack against Change Healthcare in March 2024. LockBit experienced a far more dramatic and well-marketed disruption, “Operation Cronos,” in February 2024, leading to the compromise of its infrastructure, internal operational details, and data. While LockBit has ostensibly continued operations, its highly publicized disruption raises the question of whether the group will be able to continue operating and attracting affiliates at the level they once enjoyed.
Interesting Multi-Stage StopCrypt Ransomware Variant Propagating in the Wild
Overview The SonicWall Capture Labs threat research team recently observed an interesting variant of StopCrypt ransomware. The ransomware executes its malicious activities by utilizing multi-stage shellcodes before launching a final payload that contains the file […]
Exclusive: After LockBit’s takedown, its purported leader vows to hack on
This week, the Click Here podcast landed a rare interview with the purported leader of the LockBit ransomware group – he goes by the name LockBitSupp. He’s under pressure because last month an international police operation infiltrated the group and seized not just their platform, but their hacking tools, cryptocurrency accounts and source code ending a four year ransomware rampage.
GhostSec’s joint ransomware operation and evolution of their arsenal
Cisco Talos observed a surge in GhostSec, a hacking group’s malicious activities since this past year. GhostSec has evolved with a new GhostLocker 2.0 ransomware, a Golang variant of the GhostLocker ransomware.
LockBit ransomware affiliate gets four years in jail, to pay $860k
Russian-Canadian cybercriminal Mikhail Vasiliev has been sentenced to four years in prison by an Ontario court for his involvement in the LockBit ransomware operation. #Canada #Case #Computer #Court #InfoSec #Legal #LockBit #Prison #Ransomware #Security