A latest evaluation of the ransomware group Meow raises the notion that teams are evolving from utilizing encryption as a tactic to extra worthwhile and cost-effective strategies.
On the finish of the day, ransomware is a enterprise. These behind the malware utilized in ransomware assaults sometimes search to become profitable, whether or not that be instantly from the sufferer group or by means of a nation-state paying for the gang’s providers.
And as with every enterprise, there’s a have to run operations predictably and profitably. Which implies it’s essential to take a look at how the enterprise operates and search for methods to streamline prices, enhance productiveness, and cost extra, when potential.
The latest evaluation by safety vendor BitDefender of the Meow ransomware group highlights a shift in assault ways we’ve all been conscious of however by no means fairly took discover.
Within the article, they level out that Meow, like different ransomware teams, have moved away from encryption in favor of exfiltration, knowledge leak extortion, and promoting of the stolen knowledge. The explanation? As BitDefender places it, “price and complexity of operations.”
Give it some thought: it prices money and time to construct encryption software program, code to evade detection, scripts to search out and delete backups, and so on. As a substitute, all ransomware gangs have to do is change into actually good at preliminary entry and lateral motion in an effort to search out and extract worthwhile knowledge – all, of which, is much less expensive to attain.
Knowledge can probably be offered a number of instances – one thing that’s extra seemingly than a corporation undoubtedly paying the requested ransom – growing revenues and making the operation as an entire extra worthwhile.
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