Police arrests LockBit ransomware members, release decryptor in global crackdown
Law enforcement arrested two operators of the LockBit ransomware gang in Poland and Ukraine, created a decryption tool to recover encrypted files for free, and seized over 200 crypto-wallets after hacking the cybercrime gang's servers in an international crackdown operation.
Law enforcement disrupt world’s biggest ransomware operation
LockBit is widely recognised as the world’s most prolific and harmful ransomware, causing billions of euros worth of damage.This international sweep follows a complex investigation led by the UK National Crime Agency in the framework of an international taskforce known as ‘Operation Cronos’, coordinated at European level by Europol and Eurojust.The months-long operation has resulted in the compromise of LockBit’s...
Ransomware Experts See Problems With Banning Ransom Payments
As the damage caused by ransomware and profits flowing to attackers reaches record levels, a panel of cybersecurity and policy experts reviewed what it might take
LockBit ransomware gang disrupted by international law enforcement operation
LockBit — the most prolific ransomware group in the world — had its website seized Monday as part of an international law enforcement operation that involved the U.K.’s National Crime Agency, the FBI, Europol and several international police agencies.
The LockBit ransomware gang is one of the most notorious organized cybercrime syndicates that exists today. The gang is behind attacks targeting private-sector corporations and other high-profile industries worldwide. News and media outlets have documented many LockBit attacks, while security vendors offer technical assessments explaining how each occurred. Although these provide insight into the attacks, I wanted to know more about the human side of the operation to learn about the insights, motivations, and behaviors of the individuals on the other side of the keyboard. To prepare for this project, I spent months developing several online personas and established their credibility over time to gain access to the gang’s operation.
Microsoft links Raspberry Robin malware to Evil Corp attacks
Microsoft has discovered that an access broker it tracks as DEV-0206 uses the Raspberry Robin Windows worm to deploy a malware downloader on networks where it also found evidence of malicious activity matching Evil Corp tactics.
SEKOIA.IO presents its Ransomware threat landscape for the first semester of 2022, with the following key points: Ransomware victimology – recent evolutions A busy first half of the year – several newcomers in the ransomware neighborhood Cross-platform ransomware features trend New extortion techniques State-nexus groups carrying out ransomware campaigns Ransomware threat groups’ Dark Web activities * A shift towards extortion without encryption?
LockBit 3.0 introduces the first ransomware bug bounty program
The LockBit ransomware operation has released 'LockBit 3.0,' introducing the first ransomware bug bounty program and leaking new extortion tactics and Zcash cryptocurrency payment options.
Conti ransomware finally shuts down data leak, negotiation sites
The Conti ransomware operation has finally shut down its last public-facing infrastructure, consisting of two Tor servers used to leak data and negotiate with victims, closing the final chapter of the notorious cybercrime brand.
Analysis and Attribution of the Eternity Ransomware: Timeline and Emergence of the Eternity Group
XVigil discovered a financially motivated threat actor group, dubbed Eternity group, actively operating on the internet, selling worms, stealers, DDoS tools, and ransomware builders.
President Rodrigo Chaves says Costa Rica is at war with Conti hackers
The president of Costa Rica says his country is "at war", as cyber-criminals cause major disruption to IT systems of numerous government ministries. Rodrigo Chaves said hackers infiltrated 27 government institutions, including municipalities and state-run utilities.
US links Thanos and Jigsaw ransomware to 55-year-old doctor
The US Department of Justice today said that Moises Luis Zagala Gonzalez (Zagala), a 55-year-old cardiologist with French and Venezuelan citizenship residing in Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela, created and rented Jigsaw and Thanos ransomware to cybercriminals.
Costa Rica declares national emergency after Conti ransomware attacks
The Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves has declared a national emergency following cyber attacks from Conti ransomware group on multiple government bodies. BleepingComputer also observed Conti published most of the 672 GB dump that appears to contain data belonging to the Costa Rican government agencies. The declaration was signed into law by Chaves on Sunday, May 8th, same day as the economist and former Minister of Finance effectively became the country's 49th and current president.
Ukrainian Researcher Leaks Conti Ransomware Gang Data
A Ukrainian cybersecurity researcher has released a huge batch of data that came from the internal systems of the Conti ransomware gang. The researcher released the
TrickBot malware operation shuts down, devs move to BazarBackdoor
The TrickBot malware operation has shut down after its core developers move to the Conti ransomware gang to focus development on the stealthy BazarBackdoor and Anchor malware families.
New RustDoor macOS malware impersonates Visual Studio update
A new Rust-based macOS malware spreading as a Visual Studio update to provide backdoor access to compromised systems uses infrastructure linked to the infamous ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware gang.
Hyundai Motor Europe hit by Black Basta ransomware attack
Car maker Hyundai Motor Europe suffered a Black Basta ransomware attack, with the threat actors claiming to have stolen three terabytes of corporate data.
In 2023, ransomware actors intensified their operations, targeting high-profile institutions and critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and government agencies. Major ransomware supply chain attacks were carried out exploiting the ubiquitous file transfer software MOVEit, impacting companies ranging from the BBC to British Airways. As a result of these attacks and others, ransomware gangs reached an unprecedented milestone, surpassing $1 billion in extorted cryptocurrency payments from victims. Last year’s developments highlight the evolving nature of this cyber threat and its increasing impact on global institutions and security at large.
Ransomware Retrospective 2024: Unit 42 Leak Site Analysis
Analysis of ransomware gang leak site data reveals significant activity over 2023. As groups formed — or dissolved — and tactics changed, we synthesize our findings.
Kasseika Ransomware Deploys BYOVD Attacks Abuses PsExec and Exploits Martini Driver
In this blog, we detail our investigation of the Kasseika ransomware and the indicators we found suggesting that the actors behind it have acquired access to the source code of the notorious BlackMatter ransomware.
As we move further into 2024, we must be cautious (maybe even fearful!) of ransomware cases increasing even more than in previous years. Though governments around the world are taking more interest in the worldwide threat, we can see from the increase of cases that our actions have not been enough to thwart the ransomware threat. As new groups continue to form, former groups continue to evolve into new brands, and the big players continue to ramp up their efforts, we must remain vigilant and focus on our preparation and early detection capabilities.
A Victim of Mallox Ransomware: How Truesec CSIRT Fought Back
When a devastating Mallox ransomware attack hit a company, Truesec CSIRT got called into action. This blog post delves deep into the sophisticated techniques, tactics, and procedures (TTPs) employed by the Mallox threat actor, offering valuable lessons and insights.
