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VPN
At-Bay Cyber Security CyberCrime Cyberhackers CyberThreat Digital Threat RaaS Ransomware remote access VPN

Increasing Exploitation of Remote Access Tools Highlights Ransomware Risks

 


Among the latest findings from cybersecurity insurance provider At-Bay, ransomware incidents witnessed a significant resurgence in 2024, with both the frequency and the severity of these attacks escalating significantly. Based on the firm's 2025 InsurSec Report, ransomware activity rose 20 percent from the previous year, returning to the high level of threat that had been experienced in 2021, when ransomware activity soared to 20 per cent. 

There is an overwhelmingly large number of remote access tools and virtual private networks (VPNS) that have been exploited as entry points for these attacks, according to the report. In particular, mid-market organisations, particularly those with annual revenues between $25 million and $100 million, have been severely hit by this surge, with targeted incidents on the rise by 46 per cent. As a result of the At-Bay claims data, it is apparent that the severity of ransomware breaches has increased by 13 per cent year over year, highlighting how sophisticated and financially destructive these threats are becoming. 

It was also found that attacks originating from third parties, such as vendors and service providers, have increased by 43 per cent, compounding the risk. It is also important to note that the economic toll of these supply chain-related incidents increased by 72 per cent on average, which increased the overall cost associated with them. This study highlights the need to reassess the cybersecurity postures of businesses, especially those that are reliant on remote access infrastructure, as well as strengthen defences across the entire digital ecosystem. 

A study published by At-Bay highlights the widespread misuse of conventional cybersecurity tools, particularly those intended to enhance remote connectivity, as well as the deterioration of the effectiveness of traditional cybersecurity tools. Virtual private networks (VPNS) and remote access software, which are frequently deployed to ensure secure access to internal systems from off-site, are increasingly being repurposed as a gateway for malicious activities. 

As a matter of fact, At-Bay’s analysis illustrates a concerning trend that threatens the flexibility of work environments. Threat actors are frequently exploiting these same tools to get access to corporate networks, extract sensitive data, and carry out disruptive operations. Due to their visibility on the public internet, cybercriminals are actively searching for potential vulnerabilities in these systems to attack them. 

The Remote Access Tools are essentially a front door that provides access to your company's network and can typically be viewed by the general public. For that reason, remote access tools are prone to being attacked by attackers, according to Adam Tyra, Chief Information Security Officer for At-Bay's customer service department. In addition to this, the report highlights the disproportionately high risk posed by mid-sized enterprises, which generate annual revenue of between $25 million and $100 million. 

The number of direct ransomware claims has increased significantly within the segment, which highlights both the increased exposure to cyber threats as well as the potential limitations in resources available to defend against them. As part of this report, the authors point out that “remote” ransomware activity has increased dramatically, a tactic that has gained considerable traction among threat actors over the past few years. 

In 2024, this type of attack is expected to have increased by 50 per cent compared to the year before, representing an astounding 141 per cent increase since the year 2022. As far as traditional endpoint detection systems are concerned, remote ransomware campaigns are typically carried out by unmanaged or personal devices. In these kinds of attacks, rather than deploying a malicious payload directly onto the victim's machine, networks file-sharing protocols are used to access and encrypt data between connected systems by using the network file-sharing protocol. Therefore, the encryption process is often undetected by conventional security tools, such as malware scanners and behaviour-based defences. 

These stealth-oriented methodologies pose a growing challenge to organizations, particularly small and medium-sized businesses (SMBS), as a result of this stealth-oriented methodology. In the study conducted by Sophos Managed Detection and Response (MDR), the most common threat vector in the SMB sector is ransomware and data exfiltration, which accounted for nearly 30 per cent of all cases tracked within this sector. 

Even though sophisticated attack techniques are on the rise, the overall volume of ransomware-related events in 2024 saw a slight decline in volume compared with 2023 despite the rise in sophisticated attack techniques. There has been a marginal decrease in ransomware-as-a-service (Raas) incidents. 

The advancement of defensive technologies and the dismantling of several of the most high-profile ransomware-as-a-service (Raas) operations have both contributed to this decline. This combined study emphasises the urgent need for businesses to modernise their cybersecurity strategies, invest in proactive threat detection, and strengthen the security of their remote access infrastructure to combat cybercrime. 

With the development of ransomware tactics in complexity and scale, the resilience of organisations targeted by these threats has also evolved. As a result of these developments, organisations are increasingly expected to reevaluate their risk management frameworks to adopt a more proactive cybersecurity policy. To ensure that a robust defense strategy is implemented, it is imperative that remote access security systems are secured and access controls are implemented and advanced monitoring capabilities are deployed. 

Besides raising awareness of cybersecurity throughout the workforce and fostering close cooperation between technology and insurance partners, it is also possible to significantly reduce the risk of ransomware being a threat to organisations. In the wake of cyber adversaries that keep improving their methods, businesses will have to take not only technical measures to strengthen their resilience, but also a wide range of strategic measures to anticipate and neutralise emergent attack vectors before they can cause significant damage.
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Ransomwares
CISA & FBI CISA advisory Cyber Attacks Malwares Medusa Attacks Medusa Ransomware RaaS ransomware attacks ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) Ransomwares

Medusa Ransomware Attacks: CISA, FBI, and MS-ISAC Issue #StopRansomware Advisory

 

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), in partnership with the FBI and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC), has issued a #StopRansomware advisory, warning organizations about the increasing threat of Medusa ransomware. 

Medusa, a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) variant, was first detected in 2021 and has since targeted over 300 victims across multiple critical infrastructure sectors. Industries such as healthcare, law, education, insurance, technology, and manufacturing have been particularly affected, highlighting the wide reach and severity of the ransomware’s impact. Medusa initially operated as a closed ransomware variant, meaning its developers had full control over its deployment and operations. 

Over time, it transitioned to an affiliate-based model, allowing external cybercriminals to use the ransomware while keeping certain aspects, such as ransom negotiations, under the control of the original developers. This shift has allowed Medusa to expand its reach, increasing its effectiveness as a cyber threat. Medusa demands ransoms ranging from $100,000 to as much as $15 million. 

Like many modern ransomware variants, it employs double extortion tactics—stealing sensitive data before encrypting victim networks. This strategy puts additional pressure on victims, as attackers can threaten to leak or sell stolen data if the ransom is not paid. Cybersecurity researchers from Symantec’s Threat Hunter team recently reported a rise in Medusa-related attacks over the past year. 

Medusa’s developers use initial access brokers (IABs) to gain entry into victim networks. These brokers operate within cybercriminal forums and marketplaces, selling access to compromised systems for amounts ranging from $100 to $1 million. Medusa affiliates rely on phishing campaigns and vulnerability exploitation to gain initial access, making it crucial for organizations to bolster their email security and patch known vulnerabilities. Once inside a system, Medusa operators use “living-off-the-land” (LotL) techniques, leveraging legitimate system tools to evade detection while conducting reconnaissance, data theft, and lateral movement.

Given Medusa’s evolving tactics, cybersecurity experts stress the importance of proactive defense measures. Organizations should deploy security patches, implement network segmentation, and restrict access to critical services from untrusted sources. Dan Lattimer, area vice president for Semperis in the UK and Ireland, emphasized the need for an “assumed breach” mindset, urging companies to shift from a prevention-focused approach to rapid detection, response, and recovery. 

As ransomware attacks grow more sophisticated, organizations must remain vigilant, continuously updating their cybersecurity strategies to mitigate risks and strengthen their defenses against threats like Medusa.
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Ransomwares
AI Attack Cyber Attacks cybercrime group Data Leak Hacktivism RaaS Ransom Demand Ransomware attack Ransomwares

FunkSec Ransomware Group: AI-Powered Cyber Threat Targeting Global Organizations

 

A new ransomware group, FunkSec, has emerged as a growing concern within the cybersecurity community after launching a series of attacks in late 2024. Reports indicate that the group has carried out over 80 cyberattacks, signaling a strategic blend of hacktivism and cybercrime. According to recent findings, FunkSec’s activities suggest that its members are relatively new to the cyber threat landscape but have been using artificial intelligence (AI) to amplify their capabilities and expand their reach. 

FunkSec’s ransomware, developed using the Rust programming language, has caught the attention of security analysts due to its complexity and efficiency. Investigations suggest that AI tools may have been used to assist in coding and refining the malware, enabling the attackers to bypass security defenses more effectively. A suspected Algerian-based developer is believed to have inadvertently leaked portions of the ransomware’s code online, providing cybersecurity researchers with valuable insights into its functionality. 

Operating under a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) framework, FunkSec offers its malware to affiliates, who then carry out attacks in exchange for a percentage of the ransom collected. Their approach involves double extortion tactics—encrypting critical files while simultaneously threatening to publish stolen information unless the victim meets their financial demands. To facilitate their operations, FunkSec has launched an underground data leak website, where they advertise stolen data and offer additional cybercrime tools, such as distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack capabilities, credential theft utilities, and remote access software that allows for covert control of compromised systems. 

The origins of FunkSec date back to October 2024, when an online persona known as “Scorpion” introduced the group in underground forums. Additional figures, including “El_Farado” and “Bjorka,” have been linked to its expansion. Investigators have noted discrepancies in FunkSec’s communications, with some materials appearing professionally written in contrast to their typical informal style. This has led experts to believe that AI-generated content is being used to improve their messaging and phishing tactics, making them appear more credible to potential victims. 

FunkSec’s ransomware is designed to disable security features such as antivirus programs, logging mechanisms, and backup systems before encrypting files with a “.funksec” extension. The group’s ransom demands are relatively modest, often starting at around $10,000, making their attacks more accessible to a wide range of potential victims. Additionally, they have been known to sell stolen data at discounted rates to other threat actors, further extending their influence within the cybercriminal ecosystem. Beyond financial motives, FunkSec has attempted to align itself with hacktivist causes, targeting entities in countries like the United States and India in support of movements such as Free Palestine. 

However, cybersecurity analysts have expressed skepticism over the authenticity of their claims, noting that some of the data they leak appears to have been recycled from previous breaches. While FunkSec may be a relatively new player in the cyber threat landscape, their innovative use of AI and evolving tactics make them a significant threat. Security experts emphasize the importance of proactive measures such as regular system updates, employee training on cybersecurity best practices, and the implementation of robust access controls to mitigate the risks posed by emerging ransomware threats like FunkSec.
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Ransomware
Artificial Intelligence cryptocurrency Cyber Security RaaS Ransomware

Understanding Ransomware: A Persistent Cyber Threat

 


Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to files until a ransom is paid. Over the past 35 years, it has evolved from simple attacks into a global billion-dollar industry. In 2023 alone, ransomware victims reportedly paid approximately $1 billion, primarily in cryptocurrency, underscoring the massive scale of the problem.

The First Recorded Ransomware Attack

The first known ransomware attack occurred in 1989. Joseph Popp, a biologist, distributed infected floppy disks under the guise of software analyzing susceptibility to AIDS. Once installed, the program encrypted file names and, after 90 uses, hid directories before displaying a ransom demand. Victims were instructed to send a cashier’s check to an address in Panama to unlock their files.

This incident, later dubbed the "AIDS Trojan," marked the dawn of ransomware attacks. At the time, the term "ransomware" was unknown, and cybersecurity communities were unprepared for such threats. Popp was eventually apprehended but deemed unfit for trial due to erratic behaviour.

Evolution of Ransomware

Ransomware has undergone significant changes since its inception:

  • 2004 – The Rise of GPCode: A new variant, "GPCode," used phishing emails to target individuals. Victims were lured by fraudulent job offers and tricked into downloading infected attachments. The malware encrypted their files, demanding payment via wire transfer.
  • 2013 – Cryptocurrency and Professional Operations: By the early 2010s, ransomware operations became more sophisticated. Cybercriminals began demanding cryptocurrency payments for anonymity and irreversibility. The "CryptoLocker" ransomware, infamous for its efficiency, marked the emergence of "ransomware-as-a-service," enabling less skilled attackers to launch widespread attacks.
  • 2017 – Global Disruptions: Major attacks like WannaCry and Petya caused widespread disruptions, affecting industries worldwide and highlighting the growing menace of ransomware.

The Future of Ransomware

Ransomware is expected to evolve further, with experts predicting its annual cost could reach $265 billion by 2031. Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) are likely to play a role in creating more sophisticated malware and delivering targeted attacks more effectively.

Despite advancements, simpler attacks remain highly effective. Cybersecurity experts emphasize the importance of vigilance and proactive defense strategies. Understanding ransomware’s history and anticipating future challenges are key to mitigating this persistent cyber threat.

Knowledge and preparedness remain the best defenses against ransomware. By staying informed and implementing robust security measures, individuals and organizations can better protect themselves from this evolving menace.

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Ransomware
Cyber Crime LockBit RaaS Ransomware

Look Who’s Back: LockBit Gears Up for a Comeback With Version 4.0

 



The infamous LockBit ransomware group has announced its return with the upcoming release of LockBit 4.0, set for February 2025. This marks a big moment for the group, which has had major setbacks over the last year. A global law enforcement crackdown shut down its operations, with arrests and recovery of nearly 7,000 decryption keys. As other ransomware groups like RansomHub take the lead, it remains uncertain if LockBit can reclaim its former dominance.  


Challenges Facing LockBit’s Return

LockBit's return is definitely not in the cards, though. The group did a lot of damage to itself, mainly because law enforcement was doing their job and newer Ransomware groups were outperforming it. Probably, the development of this 4.0 version involves deep changes in its codebase since the previous variant had been compromised. Experts therefore wonder whether LockBit manages to overcome these obstacles or gets back into the crowded field of ransomware services.

Another emerging favorite is ransomware-as-a-service, where groups start to sell their tools and infrastructure to affiliates in a specific ratio of the profits being extracted by that affiliate. LockBit will find itself competing not just with opponents such as RansomHub but also with variants from the same ransomware assembled using leaked source code.


What to Expect With LockBit 4.0

The group's announcement for LockBit 4.0 has bold claims, enticing potential affiliates with promises of wealth and success. The official launch is scheduled for February 3, 2025, and keys are provided to access their dark web leak site. While specific details about the 4.0 version are unclear, cybersecurity researchers are closely monitoring its development.

The group may also change its tactics to stay off the radar of international law enforcement. In the past, LockBit has been criticized for hitting high-profile victims, including the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children in 2022. After public backlash, the group issued an apology and provided a free decryption key, an unusual move for a ransomware organization.  


The Future

LockBit's ability to stage a successful comeback will depend on its capacity to adapt to the challenges it faces. With competitors gaining ground and its credibility in question, the group's path forward is uncertain. Cybersecurity experts will be watching closely to see how LockBit 4.0 impacts the ransomware infrastructure.

For now, organizations are advised to remain vigilant, as ransomware groups continue to improvise their tactics. Implementing robust security measures and staying informed about emerging threats are critical steps in defending against such attacks.



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Ransomware
Encryption malware NHS Obfuscation Technique Qilin RaaS Ransomware

NEW Qilin Ransomware Variant Emerges with Improved Evasion Techniques

 



A much more potent version of the Qilin ransomware has been found, according to cybersecurity experts, showing a new and revamped kind that is ready to attack core systems using advanced encryption along with improved stealth techniques.


A Rebranding with a Twist: Qilin's Evolution

The Qilin ransomware operation, which first appeared in July 2022, has now morphed into a more formidable opponent with a new version dubbed "Qilin.B." Known previously as "Agenda," the malware was rebranded and rewritten in Rust, a programming language harder to detect and often used for high-performance systems. The Qilin group is notorious for demanding multi-million dollar ransoms, focusing on high-stakes sectors such as healthcare, where operational disruptions can be particularly severe.

Qilin's latest incarnation has been a powerful tool in mass-attack campaigns. Just last year, a significant cyber attack was launched against Synnovis, a pathology firm providing services to the United Kingdom's NHS, which resulted in the cancellation of thousands of hospital and family doctor appointments. In return for collaborating on campaigns, Qilin partners are promised a large percentage of ransom payments, up to 85% — an arrangement that is structured to encourage high-paying ransomware attacks with the highest payoffs.


Improved Encryption and Obfuscation

This variant, Qilin.B, has the following methods that make their detection a hard nut to crack by the standard systems of security. According to Halcyon, a research firm specialising in cybersecurity, enhanced encryption, such as AES-256-CTR systems that support AESNI, together with RSA-4096 and OAEP padding have been seen in this particular variant. Such standards ensure that decrypting files from this threat is impossible minus the private key, as the case of preventive actions being the only way forward.

Further, the obfuscation technique is available in Qilin.B with which the developers hide the coding language of malware in order to prevent detection via signature-based detection systems. Such evasion mechanisms make the detection and quick response even more difficult by the cyber security teams in case of infections. As reported by the researchers from Halcyon, who had studied malware upgrades, increasing sophistication can be seen in ransomware tactics, specifically Qilin.B was developed to resist reverse engineering as well as delay incident response.


New Tactics to Dodge System Defences

Qilin.B disables important system services such as backup and removes volume shadow copy to prevent rollback of the infected systems. In addition, it disables restarts and self-cleans up by removing the ransomware after a successful attack to minimise digital artefacts. All these features make it more robust for defence against evolving ransomware groups that will continue to change their approach to remain at least a step ahead of security patches.


Growing Need for Cross-Platform Security

As Qilin ransomware is becoming more agile, security experts say the cybersecurity posture of organisations must be more offensive-minded. Qilin.B is rebuilt in Rust and can be executed properly across different environments-from Linux to VMware's ESXi hypervisor. The required security monitoring needs to recognize stealthy methods identified with Qilin.B, including detection of code compiled in Rust because traditional systems would fail to counter it.


Advanced Configurations and Control

Qilin.B. This is another notable configuration option from the attackers so that one can personalise his attack. Thus, this version comes along with new names for some functions, encrypted strings and other complex code, in order to take more time for defence activities and forensic analysis of an incident. According to researchers of the Halcyon company, the best behaviour-based detecting systems should be implemented and it can easily find out what malware does, without the outdated method of searching for signatures by which malware has successfully dodged, in this case.

With the advancements of Qilin.B in terms of encryption and evasion, the security firm Halcyon recommends that organisations supplement their security infrastructure with cross-platform monitoring and backup solutions which are designed to fight against ransomware attacks' newest variations. A more complete system in detecting and responding to threats will still be an asset as ransomware advances through networks well-protected.

Continuous improvement in ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) points to the intensifying threat that organisations have to grapple with as they secure sensitive data from increasingly sophisticated adversaries. The Qilin operation exemplifies how ransomware groups continue to adapt themselves to avoid defences, so proactive and adaptive security measures are justified in industries.


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Vulnerable Organization
Artificial Intelligence Clout Plateforms CyberCrime Cybersecurity CyberThreat EMBARGO RaaS Ransomware Storm-0501 Vulnerable Organization

Embargo Ransomware Shifts Focus to Cloud Platforms

 


In a recent security advisory, Microsoft advised that the ransomware threat actor Storm-0501 has recently switched tactics, targeting hybrid cloud environments now to compromise the entire system of victimization. It is becoming increasingly apparent that cybercriminals are finding out how difficult it is to secure hybrid cloud environments. 

In the latest case, an extremely cruel group called Storm-0501 has stepped forward in an attempt to steal from the most vulnerable organizations in the US, including schools, hospitals, and law enforcement. The group is known for its cash-grab operations. As an affiliate of different strains of ransomware as a service (RaaS), Storm-0501 has been around since 2021, as per Microsoft Threat Intelligence's new report on it.

This ransomware operates as affiliates of a variety of RaaS strains such as BlackCat/ALPHV, LockBit, and Embargo, among others. The Storm-0501 ransomware gang is well-known for its operations in on-premise networks, but now the group is focusing on extending its reach to cloud infrastructures as they look to compromise whole networks with their campaigns. 

Since Storm-0501 was first discovered in 2021, it has been associated with the Sabbath ransomware group as an affiliate. There are several notable ransomware groups, such as Hive, BlackCat, LockBit, and Hunters International, that have been involved in these operations from time to time, but it has been growing rapidly. 

There have been recent reports that the group has been using Embargo ransomware as a means of executing their operations. As a result of the group's broad range of targets within the United States, the group has selected a wide array of sectors for its attacks, including hospitals, government agencies, manufacturing companies, transportation companies, and law enforcement agencies. 

As part of their attack pattern, the group usually exploits weak credentials and privileged accounts, enabling them to steal sensitive information from compromised networks and to deploy ransomware to guarantee their success. Earlier this week, Microsoft team members shared information about a recent attack on Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) that was performed by Storm-0501 threat actors. 

The credential-synching component of this on-premises Microsoft application is responsible for synchronizing the passwords and other sensitive data between the objects in Active Directory and Entra ID, assuming the credentials of the user are the same for both on-premises and cloud environments. This report warns that once Storm-0501 was able to migrate into the cloud at a later point in time, it was then capable of manipulating, exfiltrating, and setting up persistent backdoors to commit ransomware attacks. 

As a result of exploiting weak usernames and passwords, the attacker gains access to cloud environments via privileged accounts, which sets out to steal data as well as execute a ransomware payload on the target machine. It is Microsoft's position that the Storm-0501 is obtaining initial access to the network by stealing or buying credentials for access, or by exploiting known vulnerabilities that have already been discovered. 

It is worth noting that CVE-2022-47966 has been used in recent attacks against Zoho ManageEngine, CVE-2023-4966 has been used against Citrix NetScaler, and CVE-2023-29300 or CVE-2023-38203 may have been used against ColdFusion 2016. As the adversary moves laterally, it uses frameworks like Impacket and Cobalt Strike, steals data through Rclone binaries renamed to mimic known Windows tools, and disables security agents using PowerShell command-line functions. 

Storm-0501 is malware that has been designed to exploit stolen Microsoft Entra ID credentials (formerly known as Azure AD credentials) to move from on-premise to cloud environments, compromise synchronization accounts for persistence, and hijack sessions for recurrence. Using a Microsoft Entra Connect Sync account is an essential part of synchronizing data between on-premises AD (Active Directory) and Microsoft Entra ID (Entra ID cloud-based). 

These accounts allow a wide range of sensitive actions to be taken on behalf of the On-Premise AD account. In the case that the attacker has gained access to the credentials for the Directory Synchronization Account, he or she has the capability of changing cloud passwords through specialized tools like AADInternals, thus bypassing any additional security measures. 

An unauthorized user may exploit the Storm-0501 vulnerability if the account of a domain admin or other high-privileged user on-premises also exists in the cloud environment and is not properly protected (e.g. it does not implement multi-factor authentication). As soon as the malicious actor has gained access to the cloud infrastructure, they plant a persistent backdoor by creating a new federated domain inside of the Microsoft Entra tenant, which allows them to log in as any user that has the "Immutableid" property set to their benefit. 

A final step would be for the attackers to either install Embargo ransomware in the victim's on-premises infrastructure and cloud-based environments or keep backdoor access available for later use to the victim. In response to the growing prevalence of hybrid cloud environments, Microsoft's Threat Intel team has warned, "As organizations continue to work with multiple platforms to protect their data, securing resources across them becomes a growing challenge."

Keeper Security, vice president of security and infrastructure, said that a zero-trust framework is a highly effective means of achieving this goal for enterprise cybersecurity teams and that it can be achieved by progressively advancing towards one. Using this model, access is restricted based on the customers' roles, making sure that users only have access to the resources they need for their specific roles. 

This minimizes the possibility of malicious actors getting access to those resources," Tiquet stated in an email. "It is widely believed that weak credentials remain one of the most vulnerable entry points in hybrid cloud environments that are likely to be exploited by groups such as Storm-0501." A centralised approach to endpoint device management (EDM) is also vital to the success of the strategy, according to him. Keeping all environments patched - be it cloud-based or on-premises - is one of the best ways to prevent attackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities by ensuring a consistent level of security patching." 

In addition to my previous statement, he added that advanced monitoring tools will allow teams to detect potentially malicious threats across hybrid cloud environments before they can become breaches. SlashNext Security's field CTO Stephen Kowski provided a similar list of recommendations in a statement he sent via e-mail. Embargo, whose contact information can be found here, is a threat group that uses Rust-based malware in its ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation, which accepts affiliates who access companies and deploy the payload, sharing part of the profit with the affiliate. 

As far back as August 2024, an Embargo ransomware affiliate attacked the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and claimed to have received $1 million for a decryptor that worked once it was provided to them. The theft of sensitive data from Firstmac Limited, an Australian company that deals with mortgages, investment management and investment strategy, was reported to the cybercrime reporting agency earlier this month. When the deadline to negotiate a solution had passed, an Embargo subsidiary was discovered to have breached the company.
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Ransomware
Automobiles Cyber Security Kawasaki RaaS RansomHub Ransomware

Kawasaki Ransomware Attack: 500 GB Alleged Data Leaked, RansomHub Claims

Kawasaki Ransomware Attack: 500 GB Alleged Data Leaked, RansomHub Claims

In a recent ransomware attack that hit Kawasaki Motors Europe (KME), the company has confirmed that it suffered the breach causing major service disruptions as threat actors threatened to leak the data. 

“At the start of September, Kawasaki Motors Europe (KME) was the subject of a cyberattack which, although not successful, resulted in the company’s servers being temporarily isolated until a strategic recovery plan was initiated later on the same day," KME said in a statement.

RansomHub Behind Leak

RansomHub, an infamous Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) has leaked 478GB of data which the group claims belongs to the KME website,  after the attack. Important business documents were exposed- dealership details, internal communications, banking records, and financial info.

Threat actors posted the exposed data on their extortion site on the dark net, suggesting that KME didn’t agree to pay the ransom demanded by RanHub.

RansomHub has become popular after its creation in February 2024, it is now one of the most efficient RaaS groups, it was responsible for 75 ransom attacks in Q2 of 2024. RansomHub’s victims include high-level targets like Planned Parenthood and Change Healthcare.

To warn about the attacks, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) issued an advisory, highlighting indicators of compromise (IoC) to combat the threat of potential targets.

Rising Ransom Demands 

With a significant increase in the number of RaaS, the ransom demand trend is also rising. A threat actor demands a shocking $1.5 million in return for a victim’s stolen data. In 2023, the ransomware number was a mere $200,000, which shows the dominance of ransomware groups and the harm they cause to an organization. 

How to Combat Ransomware Attacks?

Adopting a proactive cybersecurity plan can help a business address future threats and take measures to mitigate risks, reducing the threat of future attacks. 

A strong incident response plan can reduce the impact of a ransomware breach. It should have a framework for a plan of action for a possible attack, this can include a data recovery process, legal aspects, and communication protocols. 

Human error is one of the leading causes of breach, but employee training and awareness helps to identify threats and respond accordingly. 

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