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:
- Snatch ransomware attack claims probed by Kraft Heinz
December 15, 2023
U.S. multinational food and beverage company Kraft Heinz has launched an investigation into the Snatch ransomware gang’s recently emerged claims of an August attack even though there has been no indication of any systems compromise. Despite admitting responsibility for the attack, the Snatch ransomware operation has not posted any proof of data that it exfiltrated from ...
- ALPHV ransomware gang returns, sorta
December 14, 2023
The ALPHV ransomware gang, arguably the second most dangerous “big game” ransomware operator, appears to be back in business after its infrastructure went down for five days. But all does not appear to be going well for group. ALPHV’s dark web leak site may be back but it is only showing a single victim with no ...
- Roblox and Twitch provider Tipalti breached by ransomware
December 5, 2023
Accounting software provider Tipalti says it is investigating a claim by ransomware group ALPHV that they have gained access to Tipalti’s systems. Tipalti makes software for accounting and payment automation and has some big names among its customers. In what seems to be a typical supply chain attack, ALPHV aka BlackCat are now threatening some Tipalti ...
- Ransomware ‘catastrophe’ at Fidelity National Financial causes panic with homeowners and buyers
November 27, 2023
Last Tuesday, Fidelity National Financial, or FNF, a real estate services company that bills itself as the “leading provider of title insurance and escrow services, and North America’s largest title insurance company,” announced that it had experienced a cyberattack. Since then, homeowners who have mortgages and prospective buyers who are purchasing properties with FNF or one ...
- New ransomware-as-a-service caters to cybercriminals with commercial expansion
November 23, 2023
New evidence suggests that the popular Play ransomware is now being rented out to cybercriminals. Known as ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS), cybercriminals can pay to use the malware itself alongside the infrastructure needed to pull off an attack.This is a relatively new phenomenon and can provide a steady stream of revenue for malicious cyber gangs. Read more… Source: MSN News
- #StopRansomware: LockBit 3.0 Ransomware Affiliates Exploit CVE 2023-4966 Citrix Bleed Vulnerability
November 21, 2023
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Multi-State Information Sharing & Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), and Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Center (ASD’s ACSC) are releasing this joint Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) to disseminate IOCs, TTPs, and detection methods associated with LockBit 3.0 ransomware exploiting CVE-2023-4966, labeled Citrix Bleed, affecting Citrix ...

