DeadLock is a ransomware family discovered in July 2025. It is notable for not being associated with any known affiliate programs and for lacking a Data Leak Site (DLS). This, combined with the limited number of reported victims, has resulted in low exposure for the group. However, Group-IB specialists have discovered an interesting use of Polygon smart contracts for proxy server address rotation or distribution.
This finding warrants public attention, especially since the abuse of this specific blockchain for malicious purposes has not been widely reported. In addition, the recent discovery of similar techniques show that the abuse of smart contracts for malicious purposes could become an emerging trend.
Read more…
Source: Group IB
Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox
Related:
- Australian govt warns of escalating LockBit ransomware attacks
August 8, 2021
The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) warns of an increase of LockBit 2.0 ransomware attacks against Australian organizations starting July 2021. “ACSC has observed an increase in reporting of LockBit 2.0 ransomware incidents in Australia,” Australia’s cybersecurity agency said in a security alert issued on Thursday. Read more… Source: Bleeping Computer
- Angry Affiliate Leaks Conti Ransomware Gang Playbook
August 6, 2021
An apparently vengeful affiliate of the Conti Gang has leaked the playbook of the ransomware group after alleging that the notorious cybercriminal organization underpaid him for doing its dirty work. A security researcher shared a comment from an online forum allegedly posted by someone who did business with Conti that included information integral to its ransomware-as-as-service ...
- More than 12,500 vulnerabilities disclosed in first half of 2021
August 5, 2021
Risk Based Security has released two new reports covering data breaches and vulnerabilities in the first half of 2021, finding that there was a decline in the overall number of reported breaches but an increase in the amount of vulnerabilities disclosed. The company’s data breach report found that there were 1,767 publicly reported breaches in the ...
- Security company warns of Mitsubishi industrial control vulnerabilities
August 5, 2021
Cybersecurity company Nozomi Networks Labs has warned the industrial control system (ICS) security community about 5 vulnerabilities affecting Mitsubishi safety PLCs. In a new report, the company said Mitsubishi acknowledged the issues — which are focused on the authentication implementation of the MELSOFT communication protocol — after they were discovered at the end of 2020. The Japanese ...
- How Social Norms Can Be Exploited by Scammers on Social Media
August 5, 2021
Social media platforms are excellent hunting grounds for scammers. This is where we connect with our friends or people who we have something in common with. This is precisely what scammers exploit—our connections and the trust that is afforded between friends or acquaintances. From an early age, we are taught to be kind and compassionate as ...
- The Next Disruptive ICS Attacker: A Disgruntled Insider?
August 4, 2021
Often, the most critical threats come from within an organization itself. This is true for all sectors, but it is especially true for industrial control systems (ICS). Technicians in these environments already have access to plant controls and may have the deep knowledge of industrial processes needed to achieve specific goals. The damage caused by ...