WantToCry ransomware remotely encrypts files


SophosLabs analysts investigated WantToCry ransomware attacks that involved the threat actors abusing the Server Message Block (SMB) service for initial access and then exfiltrating files to attacker-controlled infrastructure for remote encryption. The detection surface is significantly reduced because WantToCry operates without local malware execution, and there is no post-compromise activity beyond exfiltrating files and rewriting them to disk.

Read more…
Source: SophosLabs


Sign up for the Cyber Security Review Newsletter
The latest cyber security news and insights delivered right to your inbox


Related:

  • People’s Republic of China State-Sponsored Cyber Actors Exploit Network Providers and Devices

    June 8, 2022

    This joint Cybersecurity Advisory describes the ways in which People’s Republic of China (PRC) state-sponsored cyber actors continue to exploit publicly known vulnerabilities in order to establish a broad network of compromised infrastructure. These actors use the network to exploit a wide variety of targets worldwide, including public and private sector organizations. The advisory details the ...

  • Cuba ransomware returns to extorting victims with updated encryptor

    June 8, 2022

    The Cuba ransomware operation has returned to regular operations with a new version of its malware found used in recent attacks. Cuba ransomware’s activity reached a peak in 2021 when it partnered with the Hancitor malware gang for initial access. By the end of the year, it had breached 49 critical infrastructure organizations in the United ...

  • Ukraine’s secret cyber-defense that blunts Russian attacks: excellent backups

    June 8, 2022

    The Kremlin-backed cyberattack against satellite communications provider Viasat, which happened an hour before Russia invaded Ukraine, was “one of the biggest cyber events that we have seen, perhaps ever, and certainly in warfare,” according to Dmitri Alperovitch, a co-founder of CrowdStrike and chair of security-centric think tank Silverado Policy Accelerator. Alperovitch shared that opinion during a ...

  • Microsoft seizes 41 domains tied to ‘Iranian phishing ring’

    June 7, 2022

    Microsoft has obtained a court order to seize 41 domains used by what the Windows giant said was an Iranian cybercrime group that ran a spear-phishing operation targeting organizations in the US, Middle East, and India. The Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit said the gang, dubbed Bohrium, took a particular interest in those working in technology, transportation, ...

  • Qbot malware now uses Windows MSDT zero-day in phishing attacks

    June 7, 2022

    A critical Windows zero-day vulnerability, known as Follina and still waiting for an official fix from Microsoft, is now being actively exploited in ongoing phishing attacks to infect recipients with Qbot malware. Proofpoint first reported Monday that the same zero-day was used in phishing targeting US and EU government agencies. Last week, the enterprise security firm also ...

  • Hackers are now hiding inside networks for longer. That’s not a good sign

    June 7, 2022

    The amount of time cyber criminals intruders are spending inside victims’ networks is increasing, providing them with the ability to carry out higher complexity campaigns and more damaging cyber attacks. According to analysis by cybersecurity researchers at Sophos, who examined incidents targeting organisations around the world and across a wide range of industry sectors, the median ...