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:
- New Phobos ransomware exploits weak security to hit targets around the world
January 21, 2019
A prolific cybercrime gang behind a series of ransomware attacks is distributing a new form of the file-encrypting malware which combines two well known and successful variants in a series of attacks against businesses around the world. Dubbed Phobos by its creators, the ransomware first emerged in December and researchers at CoveWare have detailed how it shares a number of ...
- Ryuk Ransomware Partners with TrickBot to Gain Access to Infected Networks
January 12, 2019
Historically, Ryuk has been considered a targeted ransomware that scopes out a target, gained access via Remote Desktop Services or other direct methods, stole credentials, and then targeted high profile data and servers to extort the highest ransom amount possible. Ryuk has been a high profile ransomware due to its wide impact on the networks it infects, high ransom ...
- Ransomware MongoLock Immediately Deletes Files, Formats Backup Drives
January 8, 2019
We have been following a new wave of MongoLock ransomware attacks that immediately deletes files upon infection instead of encrypting it, and further scans for other available folders and drives for file deletion. In the wild since December 2018, the ransomware demands a payment of 0.1 bitcoin from victims within 24 hours to retrieve the ...
- GandCrab Operators Use Vidar Infostealer as a Forerunner
January 7, 2019
Cybercriminals behind GandCrab have added the infostealer Vidar in the process for distributing the ransomware piece, which helps increase their profits by pilfering sensitive information before encrypting the computer files. Following the trails of a malvertising campaign targeting users of torrent trackers and video streaming websites, malware researchers found that Fallout Exploit Kit was used to ...
- Cyber-attack disrupts printing of major US newspapers
December 30, 2018
A cyber-attack has caused printing and delivery disruptions to major US newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune and the Baltimore Sun. The attack on Saturday appeared to originate outside the United States, the Los Angeles Times reported. It led to distribution delays in the Saturday edition of the Times, the Tribune, the Sun and other ...
- Fileless GandCrab As Seen by SandBlast Agent
December 17, 2018
January 2018 saw the debut of the GandCrab ransomware, a well-known malware that is distributed on the Dark Web which targets mainly Scandinavian and English-speaking countries. In addition, the GandCrab Affiliate Program offers low skilled threat actors the opportunity to run their own ransomware campaigns. Delivered mainly through email spam engines, affiliates are also provided with advice and ...