When it comes to the duration of a ransomware attack and the subsequent recovery process, the numbers are staggering and vary wildly. Partly because there’s no single source which compiles all the information in a consistent manner. On average, a cyber attack can last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, with the recovery time often extending to months or even years.

In the dynamic world of cyber threats, the X-FILES stealer has emerged as a particularly dangerous and sophisticated piece of malware. First discovered in March 2021, this malware gained significant attention after a second variant surfaced later that year. Known for its efficiency in targeting vulnerable systems globally, X-FILES has become a top priority for cybersecurity professionals.

The latest data from Coveware shows a slowing of attack efficacy, a decrease in ransom payments being made, and a shift in initial access tactics. According to Coveware’s Q2 2024 Ransomware Quarterly Report, we see a few interesting trends: A new data point brought to light this quarter is the data exfiltration only (DXF) payment trend, which is relatively flat despite fluctuating between 53% in Q1 of 2022 when tracking began, down to a low of 23% in Q1 of this year.

In a major breakthrough against cybercrime, the FBI, in collaboration with international partners, successfully disrupted the Dispossessor ransomware operation, seizing its servers and websites. This operation, which involved agencies from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, marks a significant step forward in the global fight against ransomware.

An investigation dating back almost ten years has seen the extradition this week to the United States of a man suspected to be the head of one the world's most prolific Russian-speaking cybercriminal gangs. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) says it has been investigating a cybercriminal using the online handle "J P Morgan" since 2015, alongside parallel investigations run by the United States FBI and Secret Service.

The ransomware group – RansomHub – has emerged as a significant player in the ransomware landscape, making bold claims and substantiating them with data leaks. It emerged after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) disrupted ALPHV’s ransomware operation on December 19, 2023. There are assumptions that RansomHub is the “spiritual successor” of ALPHV group that operates with the help of former ALPHV affiliates.

Researchers at ThreatFabric warn that a phishing campaign is distributing the Chameleon Android malware by impersonating a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) app. The campaign is currently targeting users in Canada and Europe, but may expand to other regions. “The naming used for the dropper and the payloads clearly shows that the intended victims of the campaign are hospitality workers and potentially B2C business employees in general,” ThreatFabric says.

Double extortion ransomware is a type of cyber attack in which cybercriminals steal sensitive data and encrypt it. Then, cybercriminals threaten to release the stolen data unless the victim pays a ransom. The additional threat of exfiltration makes this type of cyber attack particularly damaging for organizations, as they face the risk of sensitive data being exposed to the public or sold on the dark web.