On June 2, 2020, CrowdStrike Intelligence observed PINCHY SPIDER introduce a new auction feature to their, DLS. As seen in the chart above, the upsurge in data leak sites started in the first half of 2020. In September 2020, Mount Lockerlaunched a "Mount Locker | News & Leaks" site that they used to publish the stolen files of victims who do not pay a ransom. Some of the actors share similar tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), including an initial aversion to targeting frontline healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and there are indications that adversaries are emulating successful techniques demonstrated by other members of the cartel1. The AKO ransomware gangtold BleepingComputer that ThunderX was a development version of their ransomware and that AKO rebranded as Razy Locker. As eCrime adversaries seek to further monetize their efforts, these trends will likely continue, with the auctioning of data occurring regardless of whether or not the original ransom is paid. Currently, the best protection against ransomware-related data leaks is prevention. A misconfigured AWS S3 is just one example of an underlying issue that causes data leaks, but data can be exposed for a myriad of other misconfigurations and human errors. Conti Ransomware is the successor of the notorious Ryuk Ransomware and it now being distributed by the TrickBot trojan. SunCrypt is a ransomware that has been operating since the end of 2019, but have recently become more active after joining the 'Maze Cartel.'. This followed the publication of a Mandiant article describing a shift in modus operandi for Evil Corp from using the FAKEUPDATES infection chain to adopting LockBit Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS). The ransomware leak site was indexed by Google The aim seems to have been to make it as easy as possible for employees and guests to find their data, so that they would put pressure on the hotelier to pay up. By clicking on the arrow beside the Dedicated IP option, you can see a breakdown of pricing. Starting in July 2020, the Mount Locker ransomware operation became active as they started to breach corporate networks and deploytheir ransomware. Like a shared IP, a Dedicated IP connects you to a VPN server that conceals your internet traffic data, protects your digital privacy, and bypasses network blocks. AKO ransomware began operating in January 2020 when they started to target corporate networks with exposed remote desktop services. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Malware. Less-established operators can host data on a more-established DLS, reducing the risk of the data being taken offline by a public hosting provider. If you have a DNS leak, the test site should be able to spot it and let you know that your privacy is at risk. Our dark web monitoring solution automatically detects nefarious activity and exfiltrated content on the deep and dark web. sergio ramos number real madrid. In July 2019, a new ransomware appeared that looked and acted just like another ransomware called BitPaymer. Learn more about information security and stay protected. Dedicated IP servers are available through Trust.Zone, though you don't get them by default. Some people believe that cyberattacks are carried out by a single man in a hoodie behind a computer in a dark room. Mandiant suggested that the reason Evil Corp made this switch was to evade the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions that had been released in December 2019 and more generally to blend in with other affiliates and eliminate the cost tied to the development of new ransomware. We have information protection experts to help you classify data, automate data procedures, stay compliant with regulatory requirements, and build infrastructure that supports effective data governance. In May 2020, CrowdStrike Intelligence observed an update to the Ako ransomware portal. This includes collaboration between ransomware groups, auctioning leaked data and demanding not just one ransom for the ransomware decryptor but also a second ransom to ensure stolen data is deleted. To find out more about any of our services, please contact us. | News, Posted: June 17, 2022 Sitemap, Intelligent Classification and Protection, Managed Services for Security Awareness Training, Managed Services for Information Protection, Request a Free Trial of Proofpoint ITM Platform, 2022 Ponemon Cost of Insider Threats Global Report. You will be the first informed about your data leaks so you can take actions quickly. There are some sub reddits a bit more dedicated to that, you might also try 4chan. We found stolen databases for sale on both of the threat actors dark web pages, which detailed the data volume and the organisations name. According to Malwarebytes, the following message was posted on the site: Inaction endangers both your employees and your guests We strongly advise you to be proactive in your negotiations; you do not have much time.. The conventional tools we rely on to defend corporate networks are creating gaps in network visibility and in our capabilities to secure them. To date, the collaboration appears to focus on data sharing, but should the collaboration escalate into combined or consecutive ransomware operations, then the fallout and impact on victims could become significantly higher. this website. Also known as REvil,Sodinokibihas been a scourgeon corporate networks after recruiting an all-star team of affiliates who focus on high-level attacks utilizing exploits, hacked MSPs, and spam. 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Call us now. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. SunCrypt adopted a different approach. Usually, cybercriminals demand payment for the key that will allow the company to decrypt its files. Data can be published incrementally or in full. DoppelPaymer data. Victims are usually named on the attackers data leak site, but the nature and the volume of data that is presented varies considerably by threat group. By: Paul Hammel - February 23, 2023 7:22 pm. She previously assisted customers with personalising a leading anomaly detection tool to their environment. 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In the middle of a ransomware incident, cyber threat intelligence research on the threat group can provide valuable information for negotiations. Soon after, all the other ransomware operators began using the same tactic to extort their victims. Get deeper insight with on-call, personalized assistance from our expert team. This tactic showed that they were targeting corporate networks and terminating these processes to evade detection by an MSP and make it harder for an ongoing attack to be stopped. For example, if buried bumper syndrome is diagnosed, the internal bumper should be removed. Here are a few examples of large organizations or government entities that fell victim to data leak risks: Identifying misconfigurations and gaps in data loss prevention (DLP) requires staff that knows how to monitor and scan for these issues. However, that is not the case. However, the situation usually pans out a bit differently in a real-life situation. In May 2020, Newalker started to recruit affiliates with the lure of huge payouts and an auto-publishing data leak site that uses a countdown to try and scare victims into paying. Deliver Proofpoint solutions to your customers and grow your business. Collaboration between operators may also place additional pressure on the victim to meet the ransom demand, as the stolen data has gained increased publicity and has already been shared at least once. We explore how different groups have utilised them to threaten and intimidate victims using a variety of techniques and, in some cases, to achieve different objectives. (Marc Solomon), No one combatting cybercrime knows everything, but everyone in the battle has some intelligence to contribute to the larger knowledge base. Similar to many other ransomware operators, the threat actors added a link to their dedicated leak site (DLS), as shown in Figure 1. In February 2020, DoppelPaymer launched a dedicated leak site that they call "Dopple Leaks" and have threatened to sell data on the dark web if a victim does not pay. In case of not contacting us in 3 business days this data will be published on a special website available for public view," states Sekhmet's ransom note. [deleted] 2 yr. ago. So, wouldn't this make the site easy to take down, and leave the operators vulnerable? Our networks have become atomized which, for starters, means theyre highly dispersed. Avaddon ransomware began operating in June2020 when they launched in a spam campaign targeting users worldwide. The collaboration between Maze Cartel members and the auction feature on PINCHY SPIDERs DLS may be combined in the future. If you are interested to learn more about ransomware trends in 2021 together with tips on how to protect yourself against them, check out our other articles on the topic: Cybersecurity Researcher and Publisher at Atlas VPN. PLENCOis a manufacturer of phenolic resins and thermoset molding materials is dedicating dedicated an on-site mechanic to focus on repairing leaks and finding ways to improve the efficiency of the plant's compressed air system. It might seem insignificant, but its important to understand the difference between a data leak and a data breach. However, the groups differed in their responses to the ransom not being paid. The Nephilim ransomware group's data dumping site is called 'Corporate Leaks.' Researchers only found one new data leak site in 2019 H2. These walls of shame are intended to pressure targeted organisations into paying the ransom, but they can also be used proactively. If the bidder wins the auction and does not deliver the full bid amount, the deposit is not returned to the winning bidder. However, the apparent collaboration between members of the Maze Cartel is more unusual and has the potential to alter the TTPs used in the ransomware threat landscape. Dumped databases and sensitive data were made available to download from the threat actors dark web pages relatively quickly after exfiltration (within 72 hours). No one combatting cybercrime knows everything, but everyone in the battle has some intelligence to contribute to the larger knowledge base. this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and Figure 3. DarkSide is a new human-operated ransomware that started operation in August 2020. It is possible that a criminal marketplace may be created for ransomware operators to sell or auction data, share techniques and even sell access to victims if they dont have the time or capability to conduct such operations. What makes this DLS interesting is an indication that the threat actors were likely issuing two ransom demands: one for the victim to obtain the decryption key and a second to delete the exfiltrated data from the DLS. Researchers only found one new data leak site in 2019 H2. After successfully breaching a business in the accommodation industry, the cybercriminals created a dedicated leak website on the surface web, where they posted employee and guest data allegedly stolen from the victims systems. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Learn about our people-centric principles and how we implement them to positively impact our global community. Learn about our unique people-centric approach to protection. The result was the disclosure of social security numbers and financial aid records. It does this by sourcing high quality videos from a wide variety of websites on . As data leak extortion swiftly became the new norm for. The overall trend of exfiltrating, selling and outright leaking victim data will likely continue as long as organizations are willing to pay ransoms. Increase data protection against accidental mistakes or attacks using Proofpoint's Information Protection. Additionally, PINCHY SPIDERs willingness to release the information after the auction has expired, which effectively provides the data for free, may have a negative impact on the business model if those seeking the information are willing to have the information go public prior to accessing it.. Originally launched in January 2019 as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) called JSWorm, the ransomware rebranded as Nemtyin August 2019. This group predominantly targets victims in Canada. Instead it was on the regular world wide web, where we (and law enforcement) could easily discover things like where it was located and what company was hosting it. The release of OpenAIs ChatGPT in late 2022 has demonstrated the potential of AI for both good and bad. Some of the actors share similar tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), including an initial aversion to targeting frontline healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, and there are indications that adversaries are emulating successful techniques demonstrated by other members of the cartel. Make sure you have these four common sources for data leaks under control. At the moment, the business website is down. Proofpoint can take you from start to finish to design a data loss prevention plan and implement it. The conventional tools we rely on to defend corporate networks are creating gaps in network visibility and in our capabilities to secure them. and cookie policy to learn more about the cookies we use and how we use your Related: BlackCat Ransomware Targets Industrial Companies, Related: Conti Ransomware Operation Shut Down After Brand Becomes Toxic, Related: Ransomware Targeted 14 of 16 U.S. Critical Infrastructure Sectors in 2021. Malware is malicious software such as viruses, spyware, etc. Law enforcementseized the Netwalker data leak and payment sites in January 2021. Department of Energy officials has concluded with "low confidence" that a laboratory leak was the cause of the Covid epidemic. Learn about our relationships with industry-leading firms to help protect your people, data and brand. The attacker can now get access to those three accounts. By contrast, PLEASE_READ_MEs tactics were simpler, exploiting exposed MySQL services in attacks that required no reconnaissance, privilege escalation or lateral movement. Asceris' dark web monitoring and cyber threat intelligence services provide insight and reassurance during active cyber incidents and data breaches. Learn about our global consulting and services partners that deliver fully managed and integrated solutions. Turn unforseen threats into a proactive cybersecurity strategy. We encountered the threat group named PLEASE_READ_ME on one of our cases from late 2021. Join this webinar to gain clear advice on the people, process and technology considerations that must be made at every stage of an OT security programs lifecycle. The use of data leak sites by ransomware actors is a well-established element of double extortion. In October, the ransomware operation released a data leak site called "Ranzy Leak," which was strangely using the same Tor onion URL as the AKO Ransomware. The auctioning of victim data enables the monetization of exfiltrated data when victims are not willing to pay ransoms, while incentivizing the original victims to pay the ransom amount in order to prevent the information from going public. Less-established operators can host data on a more-established DLS, reducing the risk of the data being taken offline by a public hosting provider. 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Seem insignificant, but its important to understand the difference between a data breach 2022! 2020, the situation usually pans out a bit differently in a campaign... More-Established DLS, reducing the risk of the data being taken offline by a single man in dark! Willing to pay ransoms the difference between a data loss prevention plan implement!