Management. In July 2019, a new ransomware appeared that looked and acted just like another ransomware called BitPaymer. 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.. Manage risk and data retention needs with a modern compliance and archiving solution. help you have the best experience while on the site. Edme is an incident response analyst at Asceris working on business email compromise cases, ransomware investigations, and tracking cyber threat groups and malware families. 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. Dedicated DNS servers with a . Yes! By mid-2020, Maze had created a dedicated shaming webpage. For threat groups that are known to use Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, the leak site can be useful as an advanced warning (as in the case of the SunCrypt threat group that was discussed earlier in this article). Read our posting guidelinese to learn what content is prohibited. It steals your data for financial gain or damages your devices. According to security researcher MalwareHunter, the most recent activity from the group is an update to its leak site last week during which the Darkside operators added a new section. | News, Posted: June 17, 2022 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. A data leak results in a data breach, but it does not require exploiting an unknown vulnerability. Meaning, the actual growth YoY will be more significant. from users. [removed] This site is not accessible at this time. The DNS leak test site generates queries to pretend resources under a randomly generated, unique subdomain. Some groups auction the data to the highest bidder, others only publish the data if the ransom isnt paid. The ransom demanded by PLEASE_READ_ME was relatively small, at $520 per database in December 2021. 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. Not just in terms of the infrastructure legacy, on-premises, hybrid, multi-cloud, and edge. To change your DNS settings in Windows 10, do the following: Go to the Control Panel. Our threat intelligence analysts review, assess, and report actionable intelligence. Proofpoint is a leading cybersecurity company that protects organizations' greatest assets and biggest risks: their people. However, the situation took a sharp turn in 2020 H1, as DLSs increased to a total of 12. To date, the Maze Cartel is confirmed to consist of TWISTED SPIDER, VIKING SPIDER (the operators of, . DoppelPaymer launched a dedicated leak site called "Dopple Leaks." The trendsetter, Maze, also have a website for the leaked data (name not available). Figure 3. Similarly, there were 13 new sites detected in the second half of 2020. Digging below the surface of data leak sites. During the attacks data is stolen and encrypted, and the victim is asked to pay a ransom for both a decryption tool, and to prevent the stolen data being leaked. The attackers claim to have exfiltrated roughly 112 gigabytes of files from the victim, including the personally identifiable information (PII) of more than 1,500 individuals. In the middle of a ransomware incident, cyber threat intelligence research on the threat group can provide valuable information for negotiations. People who follow the cybercrime landscape likely already realize that 2021 was the worst year to date in terms of companies affected by data breaches. Here are a few ways you can prevent a data leak incident: To better design security infrastructure around sensitive data, it helps to know common scenarios where data leaks occur. BleepingComputer was told that Maze affiliates moved to the Egregor operation, which coincides with an increased activity by the ransomware group. Ionut Arghire is an international correspondent for SecurityWeek. Endpoint Detection & Response for Servers, Find the right solution for your business, Our sales team is ready to help. Also, fraudsters promise to either remove or not make the stolen data publicly available on the dark web. If the target did not meet the payment deadline the ransom demand doubled, and the data was then sold to external parties for that same amount. Then visit a DNS leak test website and follow their instructions to run a test. Babuk Locker is a new ransomware operation that launched at the beginning of 2021 and has since amassed a small list of victims worldwide. The ransomware operators have created a data leak site called 'Pysa Homepage' where they publish the stolen files of their "partners" if a ransom is not paid. The timeline in Figure 5 provides a view of data leaks from over 230 victims from November 11, 2019, until May 2020. These walls of shame are intended to pressure targeted organisations into paying the ransom, but they can also be used proactively. In Q3, this included 571 different victims as being named to the various active data leak sites. An attacker must find the vulnerability and exploit it, which is why administrators must continually update outdated software and install security patches or updates immediately. RansomExxransomware is a rebranded version of the Defray777 ransomwareand has seen increased activity since June 2020. Privacy Policy Bolder still, the site wasnt on the dark web where its impossible to locate and difficult to take down, but hard for many people to reach. 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. Maze Cartel data-sharing activity to date. Dislodgement of the gastrostomy tube could be another cause for tube leak. Data can be published incrementally or in full. 2023. ThunderX is a ransomware operation that was launched at the end of August 2020. Asceris' dark web monitoring and cyber threat intelligence services provide insight and reassurance during active cyber incidents and data breaches. However, TWISTED SPIDER made no reference to the inclusion of WIZARD SPIDER, and the duplication is potentially the result of the victims facing two intrusions by separate ransomware actors, or data being sold by WIZARD SPIDER to other threat actors.. Copyright 2023. These evolutions in data leak extortion techniques demonstrate the drive of these criminal actors to capitalize on their capabilities and increase monetization wherever possible. Ransomware attacks are nearly always carried out by a group of threat actors. Eyebrows were raised this week when the ALPHV ransomware group created a leak site dedicated to just one of its victims. Hackers tend to take the ransom and still publish the data. Each auction title corresponds to the company the data has been exfiltrated from and contains a countdown timer providing the time remaining before the auction expires (Figure 2). After encrypting victim's they will charge different amounts depending on the amount of devices encrypted and if they were able to steal data from the victim. You will be the first informed about your data leaks so you can take actions quickly. 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. (Marc Solomon), No one combatting cybercrime knows everything, but everyone in the battle has some intelligence to contribute to the larger knowledge base. Sekhmet appeared in March 2020 when it began targeting corporate networks. Here is an example of the name of this kind of domain: 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. By contrast, PLEASE_READ_MEs tactics were simpler, exploiting exposed MySQL services in attacks that required no reconnaissance, privilege escalation or lateral movement. Help your employees identify, resist and report attacks before the damage is done. However, TWISTED SPIDER made no reference to the inclusion of WIZARD SPIDER, and the duplication is potentially the result of the victims facing two intrusions by separate ransomware actors, or data being sold by WIZARD SPIDER to other threat actors., The exact nature of the collaboration between Maze Cartels members is unconfirmed; it is unknown if the actors actively participate in the same operations. Typically, human error is behind a data leak. The cybersecurity firm Mandiant found themselves on the LockBit 2.0 wall of shame on the dark web on 6 June 2022. SunCrypt are known to use multiple techniques to keep the target at the negotiation table including triple-extortion (launching DDoS attacks should ransom negotiations fail) and multi-extortion techniques (threatening to expose the breach to employees, stakeholders and the media or leaving voicemails to employees). Publishing a targets data on a leak site can pose a threat that is equivalent or even greater than encryption, because the data leak can trigger legal and financial consequences for the victim, as well as reputational damage and related business losses. It was even indexed by Google. Increase data protection against accidental mistakes or attacks using Proofpoint's Information Protection. Both can be costly and have critical consequences, but a data leak involves much more negligence than a data breach. All rights reserved. The overall trend of exfiltrating, selling and outright leaking victim data will likely continue as long as organizations are willing to pay ransoms. 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. Ransomware Dedicated IP address. 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. When sensitive data is disclosed to an unauthorized third party, its considered a data leak or data disclosure. The terms data leak and data breach are often used interchangeably, but a data leak does not require exploitation of a vulnerability. It might not mean much for a product table to be disclosed to the public, but a table full of user social security numbers and identification documents could be a grave predicament that could permanently damage the organizations reputation. Cybercriminals who are using the ALPHV ransomware created a dedicated leak website in an apparent attempt to pressure one of their victims into paying the ransom. Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing, This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. Click the "Network and Sharing Center" option. Source. A data leak site (DLS) is exactly that - a website created solely for the purpose of selling stolen data obtained after a successful ransomware attack. Other groups adopted the technique, increasing the pressure by providing a timeframe for the victims to pay up and showcasing a countdown along with screenshots proving the theft of data displayed on the wall of shame. 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. Find the information you're looking for in our library of videos, data sheets, white papers and more. The targeted organisation can confirm (or disprove) the availability of the stolen data, whether it is being offered for free or for sale, and the impact this has on the resulting risks. As Malwarebytes notes, ransom negotiations and data leaks are typically coordinated from ALPHVs dark web site, but it appears that the miscreants took a different approach with at least one of their victims. (BGH) ransomware operators since late 2019, various criminal adversaries began innovating in this area. Learn about our global consulting and services partners that deliver fully managed and integrated solutions. The ProLock Ransomware started out as PwndLckerin 2019 when they started targeting corporate networks with ransom demands ranging between$175,000 to over $660,000. 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.. As affiliates distribute this ransomware, it also uses a wide range of attacks, includingexploit kits, spam, RDP hacks, and trojans. In June 2020, TWISTED SPIDER, the threat actor operating Maze ransomware, introduced a new twist to their ransomware operations by announcing the creation of the Maze Cartel a collaboration between certain ransomware operators that results in victims exfiltrated information being hosted on multiple DLSs, as shown in Figure 4. It does this by sourcing high quality videos from a wide variety of websites on . Data leak sites are usually dedicated dark web pages that post victim names and details. Click the "Network and Internet" option. In both cases, we found that the threat group threatened to publish exfiltrated data, increasing the pressure over time to make the payment. Defend your data from careless, compromised and malicious users. But it is not the only way this tactic has been used. This is a 13% decrease when compared to the same activity identified in Q2. (Matt Wilson). 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. 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. Misconfigured S3 buckets are so common that there are sites that scan for misconfigured S3 buckets and post them for anyone to review. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. Be it the number of companies affected or the number of new leak sites - the cybersecurity landscape is in the worst state it has ever been. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? AKO ransomware began operating in January 2020 when they started to target corporate networks with exposed remote desktop services. These auctions are listed in a specific section of the DLS, which provides a list of available and previously expired auctions. Conti Ransomware is the successor of the notorious Ryuk Ransomware and it now being distributed by the TrickBot trojan. "Your company network has been hacked and breached. If the bidder wins the auction and does not deliver the full bid amount, the deposit is not returned to the winning bidder. The lighter color indicates just one victim targeted or published to the site, while the darkest red indicates more than six victims affected. Ransomware profile: Wizard Spider / Conti, Bad magic: when patient zero disappears without a trace, ProxyShell: the latest critical threat to unpatched Exchange servers, Maze threat group were the first to employ the method, identified targeted organisations that did not comply, multiple techniques to keep the target at the negotiation table, Asceris' dark web monitoring and cyber threat intelligence services. TWISTED SPIDERs reputation as a prolific ransomware operator arguably bolsters the reputation of the newer operators and could encourage the victim to pay the ransom demand. When a leak auction title is clicked, it takes the bidder to a detailed page containing Login and Registration buttons, as shown in Figure 2. In our recent May ransomware review, only BlackBasta and the prolific LockBit accounted for more known attacks in the last month. This position has been . Prevent data loss via negligent, compromised and malicious insiders by correlating content, behavior and threats. At the time of writing, we saw different pricing, depending on the . Defense A notice on the district's site dated April 23, 2021 acknowledged a data security incident that was impacting their systems, but did not provide any specifics. Starting as the Mailto ransomwareinOctober 2019, the ransomwarerebrandedas Netwalkerin February 2020. This inclusion of a ransom demand for the exfiltrated data is not yet commonly seen across ransomware families. By understanding the cost drivers of claims and addressing these proactively through automation and continuous process refinement, we are able to deliver high quality incident response services in close collaboration with our industry partners. and cookie policy to learn more about the cookies we use and how we use your The attackers pretend to be a trustworthy entity to bait the victims into trusting them and revealing their confidential data. August 2020 a specific section of the infrastructure legacy, on-premises, hybrid multi-cloud. 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