Identifying and Mitigating Potential Velociraptor Abuse


Open-source technologies and communities are a big part of the Rapid7 ethos, and that’s not by chance – it’s by design. Rapid7 believe that their Metasploit, AttackerKB, and Velociraptor initiatives help create a strong threat intelligence foundation as well as a secure digital future for all. Unfortunately, the same open-source tools that help security teams prioritize risk and enhance security outcomes can be misused by threat actors for nefarious purposes.

For example, Rapid7 researchers are aware that the digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) tool Velociraptor has been observed being leveraged by threat actors to execute a ransomware campaign. Rapid7 has implemented detections for this and other Velociraptor-related misuse, and is not impacted by this incident.

Read more…
Source: Rapid7


Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • Hacker warns victims after leaking 6.8 billion emails online

    February 12, 2026

    A hacker claims to have obtained, and leaked, 6.8 billion unique email addresses – and although the claims are unverified at this time, initial reports indicate at least half of those emails are real. Researchers at Cybernews recently found a new post on a popular data leak forum created by a hacker with the alias Adkka72424 ...

  • ISA warns of increasing cyber attacks against Israeli officials

    February 11, 2026

    The ISA and the National Cyber Directorate announced on Wednesday that they thwarted hundreds of cyberattack attempts over the past year carried out by Iranian intelligence operatives. According to the agencies, the attacks targeted senior government and defense officials, academics, journalists, and employees in the defense industry. A joint statement said a marked escalation in hostile ...

  • RenEngine: When “free” comes at too high a price

    February 11, 2026

    Kaspersky researchers often describe cases of malware distribution under the guise of game cheats and pirated software. Sometimes such methods are used to spread complex malware that employs advanced techniques and sophisticated infection chains. In February 2026, researchers from Howler Cell announced the discovery of a mass campaign distributing pirated games infected with a previously unknown ...

  • Patch Tuesday – February 2026

    February 11, 2026

    Microsoft is publishing 55 vulnerabilities this February 2026 Patch Tuesday. Microsoft is aware of exploitation in the wild for six of today’s vulnerabilities, and notes public disclosure for three of those. Earlier in the month, All three of the publicly disclosed zero-day vulnerabilities published today are security feature bypasses, and Microsoft acknowledges the same cast of ...

  • Spam and phishing in 2025

    February 11, 2026

    In 2025, online streaming services remained a primary theme for phishing sites within the entertainment sector, typically by offering early access to major premieres ahead of their official release dates. Alongside these, there was a notable increase in phishing pages mimicking ticket aggregation platforms for live events. Cybercriminals lured users with offers of free tickets to ...

  • Beyond the Battlefield: Threats to the Defense Industrial Base

    February 10, 2026

    In modern warfare, the front lines are no longer confined to the battlefield; they extend directly into the servers and supply chains of the industry that safeguards the nation. Today, the defense sector faces a relentless barrage of cyber operations conducted by state-sponsored actors and criminal groups alike. In recent years, Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) ...