FBI warns of increase in PYSA ransomware attacks targeting education

On March 16, the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI issued a "Flash" alert on PYSA ransomware after an uptick on attacks this month against institutions in the education sector, particularly higher ed, K-12, and seminaries. According to the alert PDF, the United Kingdom and 12 states in the US...

PYSA Ransomware Pillages Education Sector, Feds Warn

The FBI has issued a warning about an uptick in cyberattacks on the education sector that are delivering the PYSA ransomware. In a “Flash” alert to the cybersecurity community issued on Tuesday, the Feds said that PYSA has been seen in attacks on schools in 12 U.S. states and in the United Kingdo...

RTM Cybergang Adds New Quoter Ransomware to Crime Spree

The Russian-speaking group behind the infamous RTM banking trojan is now packing a trifecta of threats as it turns up the heat – part of a massive new money-grab campaign. Beyond the banking malware it is known for, attackers have enlisted a recently-discovered ransomware family called Quoter as...

Authorities Seize Dark-Web Site Linked to the Netwalker Ransomware

U.S. and Bulgarian authorities this week took control of the dark web site used by the NetWalker ransomware cybercrime group to publish data stolen from its victims. "We are striking back against the growing threat of ransomware by not only bringing criminal charges against the responsible actors...

Nefilim Ransomware Gang Hits Jackpot with Ghost Account

A Nefilim ransomware attack that locked up more than 100 systems stemmed from the compromise of an unmonitored account belonging to an employee who had died three months previously, researchers said. Nefilim a.k.a. Nemty is a ransomware strain that emerged in 2020, with its operators adopting the...

Intel Adds Hardware-Enabled Ransomware Detection to 11th Gen vPro Chips

Intel and Cybereason have partnered to build anti-ransomware defenses into the chipmaker's newly announced 11th generation Core vPro business-class processors. The hardware-based security enhancements are baked into Intel's vPro platform via its Hardware Shield and Threat Detection Technology TDT...

Mount Locker Ransomware Offering Double Extortion Scheme to Other Hackers

A relatively new ransomware strain behind a series of breaches on corporate networks has developed new capabilities that allow it to broaden the scope of its targeting and evade security software—as well as with ability for its affiliates to launch double extortion attacks. The MountLocker...

Mount Locker Ransomware Offering Double Extortion Scheme to Other Hackers

A relatively new ransomware strain behind a series of breaches on corporate networks has developed new capabilities that allow it to broaden the scope of its targeting and evade security software—as well as with ability for its affiliates to launch double extortion attacks. The MountLocker...

PLEASE_READ_ME Ransomware Attacks 85K MySQL Servers

Researchers are warning on an active ransomware campaign that’s targeting MySQL database servers. The ransomware, called PLEASEREADME, has thus far breached at least 85,000 servers worldwide – and has posted at least 250,000 stolen databases on a website for sale. MySQL is an open-source relation...

Clop Gang Gallops Off with 2M Credit Cards from E-Land

The Clop ransomware group is at it again. On Thursday, the gang claimed that it stole 2 million credit cards from South Korean retailer E-Land over a one-year period, in a campaign that culminated with a ransomware attack on the company’s headquarters in November. Operators of Clop ransomware...

Ragnar Locker Ransomware Gang Takes Out Facebook Ads in Key New Tactic

The Ragnar Locker ransomware group has decided to ratchet up the pressure on its latest high-profile victim, Italian liquor conglomerate Campari, by taking out Facebook ads threatening to release the 2TB of sensitive data it stole in a Nov. 3 attack – unless a $15 million ransom is paid in Bitcoi...

REvil Gang Promises a Big Video-Game Hit; Claims Massive Revenue

The REvil ransomware gang claims it will rake in $100 million by year’s end. That’s according to a REvil group leader in a rare Q&A with the YouTube Channel for tech blog “Russian OSINT.” During the live interview, the REvil hacker warned of a “big attack coming…linked to a very large video game...

FIN11 Cybercrime Gang Shifts Tactics to Double-Extortion Ransomware

The FIN11 financial crime gang is shifting its tactics from phishing and credential-theft to ransomware, researchers said. According to FireEye Mandiant researchers, FIN11 is notable for its “sheer volume of activity,” known to run up to five disparate wide-scale email phishing campaigns per week...

Watch Out — Microsoft Warns Android Users About A New Ransomware

Microsoft has warned about a new strain of mobile ransomware that takes advantage of incoming call notifications and Android's Home button to lock the device behind a ransom note. The findings concern a variant of a known Android ransomware family dubbed "MalLocker.B" which has now resurfaced wit...

Watch Out — Microsoft Warns Android Users About A New Ransomware

Microsoft has warned about a new strain of mobile ransomware that takes advantage of incoming call notifications and Android's Home button to lock the device behind a ransom note. The findings concern a variant of a known Android ransomware family dubbed "MalLocker.B" which has now resurfaced wit...

U.S. Nuclear Contractor Hit with Maze Ransomware, Data Leaked

A U.S. military contractor involved in the maintenance of the country’s Minuteman III nuclear arsenal has been hit by the Maze ransomware, according to reports – with the hackers making off with reams of sensitive information. The company, Westech International, has a range of contracts with the...

Ransomware Gang Arrested for Spreading Locky to Hospitals

A cybercriminal gang have been arrested for spreading the Locky ransomware among hospitals, among other crimes. In an operation spearheaded by Romania’s law enforcement department, four people have been taken into custody after their houses were raided – three in Romania and one in neighboring...

News Wrap: Ransomware Extortion Tactics, Contact-Tracing App Security Worries

Threatpost editors discuss the top news stories of the week ended May 15, including: Recent ransomware attacks, including ones targeting healthcare giant Magellan, the IT office that supports Texas appellate courts and judicial agencies, and a popular law firm that works with several A-list...

REvil Ransomware Attack Hits A-List Celeb Law Firm

A popular law firm that works with several A-list celebrities, including Lady Gaga, Drake and Madonna, has been hit by a ransomware attack. Hackers are now threatening to release the 756 gigabytes of data allegedly stolen – including non-disclosure agreements, client contracts and personal...

Hackers Leak Biopharmaceutical Firm's Data Stolen in Ransomware Attack

The Clop ransomware group attacked biopharmaceutical company ExecuPharm and reportedly leaked some of the company’s compromised data on underground forums. ExecuPharm, a Pennsylvania-based subsidiary of the U.S. biopharmaceutical giant Parexel, provides clinical trial management tools for...