ShrinkLocker: Turning BitLocker into ransomware


The original purpose of BitLocker is to address the risks of data theft or exposure from lost, stolen, or improperly decommissioned devices.

Nonetheless, threat actors have found out that this mechanism can be repurposed for malicious ends to great effect. In that incident, the attackers were able to deploy and run an advanced VBS script that took advantage of BitLocker for unauthorized file encryption. We spotted this script and its modified versions in Mexico, Indonesia, and Jordan. In the sections below, we analyze in detail the malicious code obtained during our incident response effort and provide tips for mitigating this kind of threat.

Read more…
Source: Kaspersky


Sign up for our Newsletter


Related:

  • Russian crypto exchange Garantex seized by law enforcement operation

    March 6, 2025

    The U.S. Secret Service, working with a coalition of international law enforcement agencies, has taken down and seized the website of Garantex, a Russian cryptocurrency exchange accused of being associated with darknet markets and ransomware hackers. On Thursday, the official Garantex website was replaced with a notice saying the exchange’s domain has been seized by the ...

  • Unpacking a B2B Business Email Compromise (BEC) Scenario

    March 5, 2025

    When an organization is subject to a Business Email Compromise (BEC), a single email could result in substantial monetary losses. Threat actors employing such tactics could employ different techniques, ranging from simple to advanced, and have seen increased activities yearly. A recent investigation examined not a typical BEC scenario where a threat actor simply sends a ...

  • US charges Chinese hackers who allegedly caused millions of dollars worth of damages

    March 5, 2025

    US prosecutors on Wednesday announced criminal charges against multiple Chinese nationals for allegedly hacking a range of US companies and municipalities for profit, causing millions of dollars’ worth of damage. Victims of the hackers include US-based critics of the Chinese government, Asian government foreign ministries, and US federal and state agencies, the Justice Department said. Some ...

  • YouTube cracks down on gambling videos trying to lure viewers to unapproved sites

    March 4, 2025

    YouTube is cracking down on content related to gambling as sports betting and other online prediction markets have taken off in the United States. The platform announced Tuesday it will no longer allow content that directs users to “unapproved” gambling websites through links, images, text, logos or verbal references. YouTube defines unapproved gambling sites as those ...

  • Polish space agency says it’s investigating a cyberattack

    March 4, 2025

    Poland’s space agency (POLSA) says it is working to restore services following a cybersecurity incident. POLSA, the Polish government agency responsible for the country’s space activities, said in a post on X that it had “immediately disconnected” its network from the internet after detecting the cyberattack on Sunday. POLSA’s website remains offline at the time of ...

  • Black Basta and Cactus Ransomware Groups Add BackConnect Malware to Their Arsenal

    March 3, 2025

    The Trend Micro Managed XDR and Incident Response (IR) teams recently analyzed incidents where threat actors deploying Black Basta and Cactus ransomware used the same BackConnect malware to strengthen their foothold on compromised machines. The BackConnect malware is a tool that cybercriminals use to establish and maintain persistent control over compromised systems. Once infiltrated, it grants ...