Damien Bancal reports:
US and European agencies have updated their joint warning on Akira: nearly 250 million dollars in ransom demands, a refined attack chain and a clear inheritance from the Conti gang.
An updated advisory from US and European agencies, ransom demands estimated at nearly 250 million dollars, focused exploitation of VPNs and remote access tools, and technical and financial ties to the former Conti gang: Akira has become one of the leading ransomware threats to small and mid-sized organisations since 2023. The refreshed joint alert details an aggressive playbook capable of stealing data within just two hours of initial access and highlights targeting across manufacturing, education, IT and healthcare. For the FBI, the threat is no longer just about money: ever…
Damien Bancal reports:
US and European agencies have updated their joint warning on Akira: nearly 250 million dollars in ransom demands, a refined attack chain and a clear inheritance from the Conti gang.
An updated advisory from US and European agencies, ransom demands estimated at nearly 250 million dollars, focused exploitation of VPNs and remote access tools, and technical and financial ties to the former Conti gang: Akira has become one of the leading ransomware threats to small and mid-sized organisations since 2023. The refreshed joint alert details an aggressive playbook capable of stealing data within just two hours of initial access and highlights targeting across manufacturing, education, IT and healthcare. For the FBI, the threat is no longer just about money: every compromised network hits hospitals, schools and businesses, and therefore entire communities.
A massive financial and human toll
According to the update to the advisory first issued in April 2024, the Akira group had, by late September, demanded more than 244 million $ in ransom. Using an indicative rate of 1 dollar to 0.92 euro, that figure translates into roughly 224.5 million euros. The broader estimate of “nearly 250 million dollars” corresponds to an order of magnitude of about 230 million euros. Exact numbers aside, the point is clear: Akira now sits in the same league as the big ransomware cartels of recent years.
Read more at ZATAZ.