OpenText Cybersecurity Nastiest Malware of 2023 Shows Ransomware-as-a-Service Now Primary Busine…>
Central Charts – PRNewswire
OpenText has released its annual ranking of the Nastiest Malware of 2023, analyzing the biggest malware threats of the year.
Ransomware has seen a significant increase in popularity, with ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) becoming the preferred weapon for cybercriminals.
This year, four new ransomware gangs, believed to be the next generation of previous major players, top the list.
Cl0p, the newcomer, is named the nastiest malware due to its exorbitant ransom demands through its MOVEit campaign.
Other new entries include Black Cat, Akira, Royal, and Black Basta, alongside the familiar presence of Lockbit.
The rise of RaaS is a key finding, with profit sharing, risk mitigation, and the ability to evade authorities contributing to its success.
However, there is positive news as research shows a decrease in businesses paying ransoms.
Here is the list of the 2023 Nastiest Malware:
1) Cl0p: A RaaS platform that exploited a zero-day vulnerability in the MOVEit Transfer file software, affecting notable organizations like Shell, BBC, and the US Department of Energy.
2) Black Cat: Considered the successor to the REvil ransomware group, Black Cat has built its RaaS platform on the Rust programming language and made headlines by targeting MGM Casino Resorts.
3) Akira: Presumed to be a descendant of Conti ransomware, Akira primarily targets small to medium-sized businesses, with a notable attack on Cisco VPN products.
4) Royal: Suspected heir to Ryuk, Royal uses Whitehat penetration testing tools to gain control of the entire network and employs a unique partial encryption approach.
5) Lockbit 3) 0: Continuing its reign of havoc, Lockbit 3) 0 is more modular and evasive than previous versions.
6) Black Basta: Considered another descendant of the Conti ransomware group, Black Basta indiscriminately targets various industries.
Overall, the list highlights the resilience and adaptability of cybercriminals who continuously reinvent themselves with new tactics and target organizations relentlessly.
OpenText emphasizes the importance of investing in security to avoid paying ransoms and encourages businesses to take threats seriously.
Link: https://www.centralcharts.com/en/13687-open-text-corp/news/4423482-opentext-cybersecurity-nastiest-malware-of-2023-shows-ransomware-as-a-service-now-primary-business-model