Since March 2023, Akira ransomware has impacted a wide range of businesses and critical infrastructure entities in North America, Europe, and Australia. In April 2023, following an initial focus on Windows systems, Akira threat actors deployed a Linux variant targeting VMware ESXi virtual machines.
As of January 1, 2024, the ransomware group has impacted over 250 organizations and claimed approximately $42 million USD in ransomware proceeds. Early versions of the Akira ransomware variant were written in C++ and encrypted files with a .akira extension; however, beginning in August 2023, some Akira attacks began deploying Megazord, using Rust-based code which encrypts files with a .powerranges extension.
Read more…
Source: U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation Cyber Division
Related:
- Garmin obtains decryption key after ransomware attack
July 27, 2020
Smartwatch maker Garmin has obtained the decryption key to recover its computer files from a ransomware attack last Thursday, Sky News has learned. Last week, Garmin’s services were taken offline after hackers infected the company’s networks with a ransomware virus known as WastedLocker. A number of the company’s services are operational again and the business has now ...
- Ensiko: A Webshell With Ransomware Capabilities
July 27, 2020
Ensiko is a PHP web shell with ransomware capabilities that targets various platforms such as Linux, Windows, macOS, or any other platform that has PHP installed. The malware has the capability to remotely control the system and accept commands to perform malicious activities on the infected machine. It can also execute shell commands on an infected ...
- Ransomware gang demands $7.5 million from Argentinian ISP
July 20, 2020
A ransomware gang has infected the internal network of Telecom Argentina, one of the country’s largest internet service providers, and is now asking for a $7.5 million ransom demand to unlock encrypted files. The incident took place over the weekend, on Saturday, July 18, and is considered one of Argentina’s biggest hacks. Sources inside the ISP said ...
- Updates on ThiefQuest, the Quickly-Evolving macOS Malware
July 17, 2020
Right as July of this year began, we noticed an emerging malware dubbed by most as ThiefQuest (also known as EvilQuest), a threat that targets macOS devices, encrypts files, and installs keyloggers in affected systems. It has been found in pirated versions of macOS shared on popular torrent sites. Developments on the malware have been ...
- Conti ransomware uses 32 simultaneous CPU threads for blazing-fast encryption
July 9, 2020
A lesser-known ransomware strain known as Conti is using up to 32 simultaneous CPU threads to encrypt files on infected computers for blazing-fast encryption speeds, security researchers from Carbon Black said in a report on Wednesday. Conti is just the latest in a long string of ransomware strains that have been spotted this year. Just like ...
- This is how EKANS ransomware is targeting industrial control systems
July 2, 2020
New samples of the EKANS ransomware have revealed how today’s cyberattackers are using a variety of methods to compromise key industrial companies. In a research report published on Wednesday, FortiGuard Labs researchers Ben Hunter and Fred Gutierrez said that malware designed to attack industrial control systems (ICS) continues to be lucrative for threat actors. While ransomware only accounted for ...