Tag: ransomware
1153 articles
US Local Governments Targeted in Wave of Cyber Attacks
Local governments are under siege, with a growing wave of cyber attacks crippling their operations - just like Suisun City, which was forced to declare a state of emergency after a malicious software attack shut down its entire IT network. The attacks are leaving communities vulnerable, with city services and internal operations grinding to a halt.
Gunra Ransomware Targets Infrastructure with Fortinet, Schneider Electric Exploits
Gunra ransomware is on the loose, exploiting vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure from Fortinet and Schneider Electric to wreak havoc on organizations worldwide. This malicious campaign uses double-extortion tactics, combining data theft with file encryption to maximize damage.
US, South Korea Warn of Gunra Ransomware Gang's Global Reach
US and South Korean authorities are sounding the alarm on the global threat of the Gunra Ransomware Gang, warning that this malicious group has evolved into a sophisticated ransomware-as-a-service operation. The joint advisory aims to alert network defenders to the gang's growing reach and devastating impact on organizations worldwide.
Ransomware Attacks Surge as Qilin Targets Vulnerabilities
Malicious activity is on the rise, with nearly 400 million attacks blocked by Kaspersky products in Q2 2026 alone, showcasing a surge in large-scale web exploitation and targeted ransomware operations. This alarming trend highlights the need for robust online protection.
Ransomware gangs exploit SonicWall SMA1000 flaws
Ransomware gangs are actively exploiting two recently patched flaws in SonicWall's SMA1000 remote-access gateway, which can let attackers hijack vulnerable servers and send requests on their behalf. The vulnerabilities, tracked as CVE-2026-15409 and CVE-2026-15410, were patched in mid-July, but threat actors are now using them in real-world attacks.
Ransomware Gangs Target Mid-Level Managers to Accelerate Payments
Ransomware gangs are now taking a sniper approach, targeting mid-level managers with precision to get payments faster. This new tactic is a far cry from the scattergun methods of the past, with one recent campaign hitting 351 victims across 334 organizations in just a month.
Ransomware Attacks Surge 20% as New Gangs Target Finance, Healthcare
Ransomware attacks are on the rise, surging 20% in July with a staggering 799 incidents reported, with finance, healthcare, and tech industries becoming prime targets for new gangs. The alarming increase marks the second-busiest month of the year so far, with the US leading the list of targeted countries.
Google Exposes Redact Extortion Group's Ties to BlackFile Rebrand
Google's Threat Intelligence Group uncovered a clever rebranding scheme by the notorious extortion group formerly known as BlackFile, which has now resurfaced under the name Redact, after allegedly being hijacked by a rogue affiliate. The group had claimed retirement, but clearly wasn't done causing trouble, raking in around $10.69 million in Bitcoin transactions.
Ransom Cartel creator gets 16 years for cybercrime scheme
A 40-year-old Belarusian cybercriminal has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for masterminding a massive ransomware scheme that targeted at least 18 companies and attempted to extort a staggering $5.2 million. The defendant, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and identity theft charges, was a longtime fixture on Russian-speaking cybercrime forums before his arrest and extradition.
Canadian Hacker Pleads Guilty in Snowflake Extortion Scheme
A Canadian hacker has pleaded guilty to masterminding a massive extortion scheme targeting Snowflake customers, compromising at least 165 accounts and swiping billions of sensitive records in a brazen heist that raked in over $2.5m in ransom payments. Connor Riley Moucka, 26, faces up to 32 years in prison for his role in the 2024 cyber attacks.
Ransomware Kingpin Silnikau Gets 16 Years in Prison
In a major win for cybersecurity, Maksim Silnikau, the mastermind behind the notorious Ransom Cartel ransomware operation, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for his role in wreaking havoc on victims worldwide. The Belarusian national was brought to justice through a collaborative effort between US and Polish authorities.
Snowflake Breaches Expose 100 Million People as Hacker Pleads Guilty
A massive data breach at Snowflake has left a staggering 100 million people vulnerable, after hackers exploited stolen credentials to access sensitive records at over 165 organizations. The mastermind behind the breach, Connor Riley Moucka, has pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including computer fraud and identity theft.
Ransom Cartel Creator Sentenced to 16 Years for Global Cyberattacks
Meet Maksim Silnikau, the mastermind behind the notorious Ransom Cartel, who's now facing 16 years behind bars for masterminding a global cyberattack spree that targeted at least 18 companies and raked in millions for him. The US Department of Justice brought him to justice, sentencing him for conspiracy, wire fraud, and identity theft.
Brazilian Schools Exposed to Cyberattacks via Weak Credentials, Outdated Systems
Brazilian schools are under cyberattack, with weak credentials and outdated systems leaving them vulnerable to hackers. New data reveals a hotbed of incidents in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Pernambuco, with private institutions bearing the brunt of high-severity ransomware attacks.
ExfilSquad Breach Exposes Data of 100,000 UK Police Officers
A massive data breach has hit the UK police force, with a hacking group claiming to have stolen sensitive information from over 100,000 officers, including names, organizations, and email addresses. The breach, attributed to ExfilSquad, has left thousands of police personnel and government partners vulnerable to potential identity theft and harassment.
ShinyHunters Breach Exposes Brinks Home Data
Brinks Home recently disclosed a security breach, with an extortion group claiming to have exposed millions of customer records, prompting the company to activate its incident response procedure and work with leading forensics experts to contain the damage. The breach, identified on July 20, thankfully didn't impact alarm monitoring and system functionality.
Ransomware Breach Exposes Fairlife's Data, Disrupts Production
Fairlife has bounced back from a ransomware attack, with Coca-Cola confirming that the majority of production has resumed at its four US facilities. The breach, which involved unauthorized access and data theft, has had a minimal impact on the retail availability of Fairlife products.
Coca-Cola Discloses Data Theft in Fairlife Ransomware Attack
Coca-Cola has confirmed that its dairy subsidiary, Fairlife, was hit by a ransomware attack, resulting in data theft by hackers. The company is working to restore impacted systems and operations, with most US production now back online.
Ransomware Groups Master EDR Kill Techniques
Ransomware groups have mastered the art of disabling endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, making it standard practice to shut them down before encryption begins. This sinister tactic has significantly shortened defenders' response time, leaving them with limited opportunities to detect and contain attacks.
Cl0p Ransomware Gang Exploits PTC Windchill Flaw in Data Extortion Drive
PTC Windchill users are under attack, with threat actors actively exploiting a critical flaw (CVE-2026-12569) that allows for remote code execution, prompting PTC to warn customers of heightened threat activity. This vulnerability, with a CVSS score of 9.3, has already been added to the US government's list of known exploited vulnerabilities.
Ransomware Attacks Intensify Against Universities Worldwide
Universities worldwide are under siege by ransomware attacks, with a single group called The Gentlemen responsible for a staggering 80% of their attacks on the education sector, and a 275% surge in attacks on education in just the first half of 2026. This alarming trend has contributed to a spike in ransomware activity against universities, despite an overall decline in recorded incidents across the broader education sector.
Swiss Train Maker Thwarts Ransomware Demand
A Swiss train maker, Stadler Rail, recently outsmarted a ransomware attack by refusing to give in to a hefty $123 million extortion demand from hackers. By taking a firm stance, the company protected its operational integrity and public reputation.
Chaos Ransomware Gang Exploits Browsers for Stealthy C2 Communications
Cisco Talos researchers have uncovered a sneaky new backdoor, msaRAT, that hijacks Chrome or Microsoft Edge to secretly communicate with its command center, avoiding direct network connections. This stealthy tactic uses the browser's remote debugging interface to inject JavaScript and stay under the radar.
Ransomware Attacks Intensify as AI Enhances Phishing Tactics
Ransomware attacks are getting smarter and more effective, with AI-powered phishing tactics leading to a significant increase in successful breaches. In fact, 65% of organizations hit by ransomware say AI tools made the attack more convincing and effective.