New data sheds light on how likely your organization will succumb to a ransomware attack, whether you can recover your data, and what’s inhibiting a proper security posture. You have a solid grasp on what your organization’s cybersecurity stance does and does not include. But is it enough to stop today’s ransomware attacks?
Akira is a new family of ransomware, first used in cybercrime attacks in March 2023.
Kroll Cyber Threat Intelligence analysts have identified a new strain of ransomware, named CACTUS, targeting large commercial entities since March 2023. The name “CACTUS” is derived from the filename provided within the ransom note, cAcTuS.readme.txt, and the self-declared name within the ransom note itself. Encrypted files are appended with.cts1, although Kroll notes the number at the end of the extension has been observed to vary across incidents and victims.
New data shows a resurgence in successful ransomware attacks with organizations in specific industries, countries and revenue bands being the target. While every organization should always operate under the premise that they may be a ransomware target on any given day, it’s always good to see industry trends to paint a picture of where cybercriminals are currently focusing their efforts.
In February 2022, Microsoft disabled VBA macros on documents due to their frequent use as a malware distribution method. This move prompted malware authors to seek out new ways to distribute their payloads, resulting in an increase in the use of other infection vectors, such as password-encrypted zip files and ISO files.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) shared the findings of an investigation by numerous cybersecurity agencies worldwide on May 9th, exposing the malicious cyberespionage operations carried out by the Russian FSB utilizing the “Snake” malware. The US-CERT Alert (AA23-129A) Hunting Russian Intelligence “Snake” Malware provided information about this investigation and takedown (along with attacker TTPs and IOCs).
Unfortunately ransomware attacks have taken another victim. The City of Dallas recently confirmed that their police department suffered a ransomware attack. This attack shutdown essential services along with some 911 dispatch systems. This was announced in a statement by the city in a press release. "Wednesday morning, the City’s security monitoring tools notified our Security Operations Center (SOC) that a likely ransomware attack had been launched within our environment.
The City of Dallas, Texas, is the ninth largest in the United States currently, with a population of more than 2.6 million people. This massive city was just hit by a substantial ransomware attack by the Royal ransomware gang. The attack interfered with policy response time, 911 services, the police website, the city's court system, and more. With such significant interference occurring in the city's system of government, it's a serious issue for everyone in Dallas.
