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:
- Cyberattacks climbing across Caribbean
March 28, 2025
Ransomware gangs FOG and Akira continue to be the main culprits behind a number of recent cyberattacks plaguing businesses locally and across the Caribbean, a cyber-security expert has indicated. According to Rory Ebanks, director of cybersecurity at Symptai Consulting Limited, the two ransomware gangs, which both emerged in the last three years, primarily exploit vulnerabilities in ...
- Fake BianLian Ransomware Letters in Circulation
March 19, 2025
On March 5, the FBI issued an alert regarding a mail scam targeting U.S. business executives with extortion. The letters claim to be from noted ransomware group BianLian, demanding a payment in Bitcoin ranging from $250,000 to $500,000 within ten days of receipt. The FBI alert reads as follows: “Stamped “Time Sensitive Read Immediately”, the letter ...
- Hackers are exploiting Fortinet firewall bugs to plant ransomware
March 17, 2025
Security researchers have observed hackers linked to the notorious LockBit gang exploiting a pair of Fortinet firewall vulnerabilities to deploy ransomware on several company networks. In a report published last week, security researchers at Forescout Research said a group it’s tracking dubbed “Mora_001” is exploiting the Fortinet firewalls, which sit on the edge of a company’s ...
- Ascom affected by cyber attack
March 17, 2025
On 16 March 2025, a cyber-attack compromised Ascom’s technical ticketing system. Other IT systems and customer systems remain unaffected, and our business is fully operational as usual. Investigations against such criminal offenses were initiated immediately and are ongoing. Ascom is working closely with the relevant authorities. A group calling itself the “Hellcat ransomware gang” announced on ...
- #StopRansomware: Medusa Ransomware
March 12, 2025
Medusa is a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) variant first identified in June 2021. As of February 2025, Medusa developers and affiliates have impacted over 300 victims from a variety of critical infrastructure sectors with affected industries including medical, education, legal, insurance, technology, and manufacturing. The Medusa ransomware variant is unrelated to the MedusaLocker variant and the Medusa mobile ...
- 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 ...