What’s the BlackLock ransomware?
BlackLock is a comparatively new ransomware group. First seen in March 2024, the ransomware operation initially operated beneath the title El Dorado, earlier than rebranding as BlackLock late final 12 months.
BlackLock follows a RaaS (ransomware-as-a-service) enterprise mannequin, leasing its instruments and infrastructure to associates who launch assaults, sharing a proportion of the proceeds with BlackLock.
And I assume they do the conventional factor of encrypting your knowledge and demanding a ransom?
Sure, like many different ransomware teams, BlackLock each encrypts victims’ recordsdata and exfiltrates knowledge – issuing threats to publish it if ransoms usually are not paid. BlackLock makes use of custom-built ransomware to focus on Home windows, VMWare ESXi, and Linux environments.
So not simply Home windows?
No, though the Linux model of BlackLock’s ransomware will not be thought-about as mature as its Home windows-based sibling.
So what makes BlackLock noteworthy?
BlackLock has change into an enormous deal, in a short time. It has been predicted to be one of many largest RaaS operations of 2025, following a dramatic enhance within the variety of posts on its darkish net leak web site.
BlackLock is reported to have launched 48 assaults within the first two months of 2024, impacting a number of business sectors with building and actual property corporations hit the toughest.
As well as, BlackLock has been actively attracting new associates on RAMP, a Russian-language ransomware-focused cybercrime discussion board, as nicely recruiting builders, preliminary entry brokers and traffers (individuals who direct victims to malicious content material.)
BlackLock is represented on RAMP by a person calling themselves “$$$”, who has posted 9 occasions extra often than its nearest competitor (RansomHub) – giving some indication of the group’s aggressive promotion to different criminals.
Should not extra be completed to close down cybercriminal boards like this?
It is not a straightforward downside to resolve. However regulation enforcement has had success in seizing ransomware and different cybercriminal websites previously. We will solely hope that they may proceed to have successes.
How will you already know if your organization has been hit by BlackLock?
It will likely be very apparent that you’ve got a major problem. Information won’t solely be encrypted, but additionally renamed – with random characters.
As well as, the ransomware drops a file on impacted programs entitled “HOW_RETURN_YOUR_DATA.TXT” which incorporates the extortion notice, demanding a Bitcoin fee.
And, after all, if you happen to do not co-operate with the BlackLock gang your knowledge is printed on its leak web site?
Afraid so. Researchers who’ve seemed on the BlackLock leak web site say that it makes use of intelligent tips to attempt to make it more durable for investigators to obtain particulars of victims and work out what recordsdata have been stolen, presumably in an try to strain victims into paying out extra shortly.
Ransomware consultants have been capable of fastidiously circumvent these boundaries through the use of randomised obtain intervals, distinctive browser brokers and different methods to automate file downloads.
So how can my firm defend itself from Ragnar Locker?
The perfect recommendation is to observe our suggestions on defend your organisation from different ransomware. These embrace:
- making safe offsite backups.
- working up-to-date safety options and guaranteeing that your computer systems are protected with the most recent safety patches towards vulnerabilities.
- utilizing hard-to-crack distinctive passwords to guard delicate knowledge and accounts, in addition to enabling multi-factor authentication.
- encrypting delicate knowledge wherever potential.
- decreasing the assault floor by disabling performance that your organization doesn’t want.
- educating and informing workers concerning the dangers and strategies utilized by cybercriminals to launch assaults and steal knowledge.
Editor’s Be aware: The opinions expressed on this and different visitor creator articles are solely these of the contributor and don’t essentially mirror these of Tripwire.
