Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the victim's personal data until a ransom is paid. They commonly use difficult-to-trace digital currencies such as paysafecard or Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are used for the ransoms, making tracing and prosecuting the perpetrators difficult. Sometimes the original files can be retrieved without paying the ransom due to implementation mistakes, leaked cryptographic keys or a complete lack of encryption in the ransomware.
The Internet has a long history of turbulent relations, major maliciously designed disruptions, and other conflicts. This is a list of known and documented Internet, Usenet, virtual community and World Wide Web related conflicts, and of conflicts that touch on both offline and online worlds with possibly wider reaching implications.
Bitdefender is a multinational cybersecurity technology company dual-headquartered in Bucharest, Romania and Santa Clara, California, with offices in the United States, Europe, Australia and the Middle East.
The CryptoLocker ransomware attack was a cyberattack using the CryptoLocker ransomware that occurred from 5 September 2013 to late May 2014. The attack utilized a trojan that targeted computers running on Microsoft Windows, and was believed to have first been posted to the Internet on 5 September 2013. It propagated via infected email attachments, and via an existing Gameover ZeuS botnet. When activated, the malware encrypted certain types of files stored on local and mounted network drives using RSA public-key cryptography, with the private key stored only on the malware's control servers. The malware then displayed a message which offered to decrypt the data if a payment was made by a stated deadline, and it threatened to delete the private key if the deadline passes. If the deadline was not met, the malware offered to decrypt data via an online service provided by the malware's operators, for a significantly higher price in bitcoin. There was no guarantee that payment would release the encrypted content.
The Lazarus Group is a hacker group made up of an unknown number of individuals, alleged to be run by the government of North Korea. While not much is known about the group, researchers have attributed many cyberattacks to them since 2010.
REvil was a Russia-based or Russian-speaking private ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation. After an attack, REvil would threaten to publish the information on their page Happy Blog unless the ransom was received. In a high profile case, REvil attacked a supplier of the tech giant Apple and stole confidential schematics of their upcoming products. In January 2022, the Russian Federal Security Service said they had dismantled REvil and charged several of its members.
Ryuk is a type of ransomware known for targeting large, public-entity Microsoft Windows cybersystems. It typically encrypts data on an infected system, rendering the data inaccessible until a ransom is paid in untraceable bitcoin. Ryuk is believed to be used by two or more criminal groups, most likely Russian or Ukrainian, who target organizations rather than individual consumers.
Emsisoft Ltd. is a New Zealand-based anti-virus software distributed company. They are notable for decrypting ransomware attacks to restore data.
FIN7, also called Carbon Spider, ELBRUS, or Sangria Tempest, is a Russian criminal advanced persistent threat group that has primarily targeted the U.S. retail, restaurant, and hospitality sectors since mid-2015. A portion of FIN7 is run out of the front company Combi Security. It has been called one of the most successful criminal hacking groups in the world. FIN7 is also associated with GOLD NIAGARA, ITG14, ALPHV and BlackCat.
On May 7, 2021, Colonial Pipeline, an American oil pipeline system that originates in Houston, Texas, and carries gasoline and jet fuel mainly to the Southeastern United States, suffered a ransomware cyberattack that afflicted computerized equipment managing the pipeline. The Colonial Pipeline Company halted all pipeline operations to contain the attack. Overseen by the FBI, the company paid the amount that was asked by the hacker group within several hours; upon receipt of the ransom, an IT tool was provided to the Colonial Pipeline Company by DarkSide to restore the system. However, the tool required a very long processing time to restore the system to a working state.
DarkSide is a cybercriminal hacking group, believed to be based in Russia, that targets victims using ransomware and extortion; it is believed to be behind the Colonial Pipeline cyberattack. The group provides ransomware as a service.
Conti is malware developed and first used by the Russia-based hacking group "Wizard Spider" in December, 2019. It has since become a full-fledged ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation used by numerous threat actor groups to conduct ransomware attacks.
Wizard Spider, also known as Trickbot, DEV-0193, UNC2053, or Periwinkle Tempest, was a cybercrime group based in and around Saint Petersburg in Russia. Some members may be based in Ukraine. They are estimated to number about 80, some of them may not know they are employed by a criminal organisation.
Hive was a ransomware as a service (RaaS) operation carried out by the eponymous cybercrime organization between June 2021 and January 2023. The group's purpose was to attack mainly public institutions to subsequently demand ransom for release of hijacked data.
Clop is a cybercriminal organization known for its multilevel extortion techniques and global malware distribution. It has extorted more than $500 million in ransom payments, targeting major organizations worldwide. Clop gained notoriety in 2019 and has since conducted high-profile attacks, using large-scale phishing campaigns and sophisticated malware to infiltrate networks and demand ransom, threatening to expose data if demands are not met.
LockBit is a cybercriminal group proposing ransomware as a service (RaaS). Software developed by the group enables malicious actors who are willing to pay for using it to carry out attacks in two tactics where they not only encrypt the victim's data and demand payment of a ransom, but also threaten to leak it publicly if their demands are not met.
Royal is a cybercriminal ransomware organization known for its aggressive targeting, its high ransom demands, and its use of double extortion. Royal does not use affiliates.
Qilin is a Russian-speaking cybercrime organisation that has been linked to a number of incidents, including a ransomware attack on hospitals in London.
Akira (ransomware) is a malware which emerged in March 2023. It targeted over 250 entities: the government sector, businesses in Canada, US, Australia (Nissan), critical infrastructure entities (the Finnish IT services provider Tietoevry), universities (Stanford University). Akira is offered as ransomware-as-a-service.
