Ransom-related coverage examines extortion demands, data theft, and disruption caused when attackers lock or threaten to expose systems.
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Background for this topic.
Ransomware is malicious software that disrupts access to systems or data, typically by encrypting files, to pressure a victim into paying. Modern campaigns may also steal data and threaten to publish it, making the demand a form of extortion even when encryption is unsuccessful. Common access routes include phishing, exposed remote services, stolen credentials, and unpatched vulnerabilities, though no single route is universal.
Important safeguards include regularly tested, offline or otherwise isolated backups; multifactor authentication and least-privilege access; network segmentation; and timely remediation of known, internet-facing vulnerabilities. During an incident, organizations should isolate affected systems, preserve evidence, identify the scope of compromise, and coordinate recovery and legal or regulatory decisions. Payment does not guarantee data recovery or deletion. Threat intelligence may help identify associated infrastructure or available decryptors, while documented recovery plans reduce dependence on an attacker’s demands.
As Ransomware Disruption Mounts, More Experts Seek Path to Banning PaymentsAs ransomware groups are causing massive damage and disruption and showing no signs of stopping, cybersecurity policy expert Ciaran Martin said it's time for governments to start asking tough questions and "figure out how to make a ransomware payments ban work."
Remaining services are expected to return in the coming weeks after $22M ALPHV ransom Change Healthcare has taken the first steps toward a full recovery from the ransomware attack in February by bringing its electronic prescription services back online.…
UnitedHealth said it expects Change Healthcare’s key systems to be restored by March 18, amid reports it paid a $22m ransom to BlackCat
There are indications that U.S. healthcare giant Change Healthcare has made a $22 million extortion payment to the infamous BlackCat ransomware group (a.k.a. "ALPHV") as the company struggles to bring services back online amid a cyberattack that has disrupted prescription drug services nationwide for weeks. However, the cybercriminal who claims to have given BlackCat access to Change's network says the crime gang cheated them out of their share of the ransom, and that they still have the sensitive data that Change reportedly paid the group to destroy. Meanwhile, the affiliate's disclosure appears to have prompted BlackCat to cease operations entirely.
Source code fire sale, stiffing affiliates — are BlackCat admins intentionally burning their RaaS business to the ground? Experts say something's up.
Affiliate Claims Administrators Kept All $22 Million Paid by Change HealthcareThe administrators of the BlackCat ransomware-as-a-service group claim law enforcement has shut down their operation. But experts and affiliates accuse the group's leadership of running an exit scam on the heels of a $22 million ransom payment by a recent victim - Optum's Change Healthcare unit.
The ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware gang has shut down its servers amid claims that they scammed the affiliate responsible for the attack on Optum, the operator of the Change Healthcare platform, of $22 million. [...]
ALSO: CISA warns Ivanti vuln mitigations might not work, SAML hijack doesn't need ADFS, and crit vulns Infosec in brief The infamous LockBit ransomware gang has been busy in the ten days since an international law enforcement operation took down many of its systems. But despite its posturing, the gang might have suffered more than it's letting on.…