To Pay or Not to Pay? That is the Ransomware question

During a review of a client’s incident response capabilities the discussion turned to ransomware and strategies for handling it. The client’s board-level view was that if they were unable to restore their systems they would pay-up. They’d gone so far as considering setting up a cryptocurrency...

PSRansom - PowerShell Ransomware Simulator With C2 Server

PSRansom is a PowerShell Ransomware Simulator with C2 Server capabilities. This tool helps you simulate encryption process of a generic ransomware in any system on any system with PowerShell installed on it. Thanks to the integrated C2 server, you can exfiltrate files and receive client informati...

Meet Exotic Lily, access broker for ransomware and other malware peddlers

The Google Threat Analysis Group TAG has shared their observations about a group of cybercriminals called Exotic Lily. This group has specialized itself as an initial access broker, which means they find a vulnerability in an organizations defenses, exploit that vulnerability, and sell the access...

How to protect RDP

You didn’t really think that the ransomware wave was coming to an end, did you? You may be tempted to think so, given the decline in reports about massive ransomware campaigns. Dont be fooled. Over the last five years, one of the primary attack vectors for ransomware attacks has been the Remote...

Google Blows Lid Off Conti, Diavol Ransomware Access-Broker Ops

Google’s Threat Analysis Group TAG has provided a rare look inside the operations of a cybercriminal dubbed “Exotic Lily,” that appears to serve as an initial-access broker for both Conti and Diavol ransomware gangs. Researchers’ analysis exposes the business-like approach the group takes to...

Experts Find Some Affiliates of BlackMatter Now Spreading BlackCat Ransomware

An analysis of two ransomware attacks has identified overlaps in the tactics, techniques, and procedures TTPs between BlackCat and BlackMatter, indicating a strong connection between the two groups. While it's typical of ransomware groups to rebrand their operations in response to increased...

Conti Leaks Reveal the Ransomware Group’s Links to Russia

Members of the Conti ransomware group may act in Russia’s interest, but their links to the FSB and Cozy Bear hackers appear ad hoc...

Google Uncovers 'Initial Access Broker' Working with Conti Ransomware Gang

Google's Threat Analysis Group TAG took the wraps off a new initial access broker that it said is closely affiliated to a Russian cyber crime gang notorious for its Conti and Diavol ransomware operations. Dubbed Exotic Lily, the financially motivated threat actor has been observed exploiting a...

Misconfigured Firebase Databases Exposing Data in Mobile Apps

Thousands of mobile apps – some of which have been downloaded tens of millions of times – are exposing sensitive data from open cloud-based databases due to misconfigured cloud implementations, new research from Check Point has found. Check Point Research CPR found that in three months’ time, 2,1...

Clouding the issue: what cloud threats lie in wait in 2022?

As more services move ever cloud-wards, so too do thoughts by attackers as to how best exploit them. With all that juicy data sitting on someone else’s servers, it’s essential that they run a tight ship. You’re offloading some of your responsibility onto a third party, and sometimes things can go...

Reporting Mandates to Clear Up Feds’ Hazy Look into Threat Landscape – Podcast

You know that hazy window that’s been obscuring the cyber threat landscape, leaving the feds squinting to try to see what’s really going on? The government has recently pulled out some squeegees. Case in point: the government spending deal that President Biden signed into law on Friday. The bill...

The Golden Hour of Incident Response

As a CSIRT consultant, I cannot overemphasize the importance of effectively managing the first hour in a critical incident. Finding out what to do is often a daunting task in a critical incident. In addition, the feeling of uneasiness often prevents an incident response analyst from making...

Conti Leak: A Ransomware Gang's Chats Expose Its Crypto Plans

Leaked files from cybercrime group Conti show it started building a crypto payment platform, a social network—and even had plans for a casino...

TrickBot Malware Abusing MikroTik Routers as Proxies for Command-and-Control

Microsoft on Wednesday detailed a previously undiscovered technique put to use by the TrickBot malware that involves using compromised Internet of Things IoT devices as a go-between for establishing communications with the command-and-control C2 servers. "By using MikroTik routers as proxy server...

From BlackMatter to BlackCat: Analyzing two attacks from one affiliate

By Tiago Pereira with contributions from Caitlin Huey. BlackCat is a recent and growing ransomware-as-a-service RaaS group that targeted several organizations worldwide over the past few months.There are rumors of a relationship between BlackCat and the BlackMatter/DarkSide ransomware groups,...

Pandora Ransomware Targets Multiple Plants around the Globe

THREAT LEVEL: Red. For a detailed advisory, download the pdf file here Pandora ransomware is a new operation that targets business networks and obtains data for double-extortion assaults and active since March 2022. DENSO, a Japanese auto parts manufacturers plant in Germany, and Global Wafers...

The Workaday Life of the World’s Most Dangerous Ransomware Gang

A Ukrainian researcher leaked 60,000 messages from inside the Conti ransomware group. This is what they reveal...

Cybercriminals’ Recruiting Effort Highlights Need for Proper User Access Controls

The Lapsus$ ransomware gang’s modus operandi seems to be evolving. Following the recent data breaches of Nvidia and Samsung, on March 10, 2022, the Lapsus$ ransomware gang posted a message on their Telegram channel claiming that they were looking to recruit employees/insiders of companies in the...

Nearly 34 Ransomware Variants Observed in Hundreds of Cyberattacks in Q4 2021

As many as 722 ransomware attacks were observed during the fourth quarter of 2021, with LockBit 2.0, Conti, PYSA, Hive, and Grief emerging as the most prevalent strains, according to new research published by Intel 471. The attacks mark an increase of 110 and 129 attacks from the third and second...

Pandora Ransomware Hits Giant Automotive Supplier Denso

A multibillion supplier to key automotive companies like Toyota, Mercedes-Benz and Ford confirmed Monday that it was the target of a cyberattack over the weekend – confirmation that came after the Pandora ransomware group began leaking data that attackers claimed was stolen in the incident. The...