Ransomware

Ransomware is a form of malware designed to encrypt data or lock down systems and then demand payment for its release.

A ransomware attack, however, is not just the deployment of ransomware. It is a multi-stage intrusion in which attackers first gain access, establish persistence, elevate privileges, move laterally across systems, and often exfiltrate sensitive data before deploying ransomware as the final step to disrupt operations and force payment.

Modern ransomware groups combine encryption with data theft and extortion, turning full-scale network compromise into a highly profitable criminal business model.

• Infiltration: Usually via a phishing email, a compromised remote desktop (RDP) credential, or a software vulnerability.
• Staging & Stealth: The malware communicates with the attacker's server to set up encryption keys while staying hidden from basic antivirus.
• Data Exfiltration: Before encrypting, the attacker quietly uploads copies of your sensitive files to their own servers.
• Encryption: The software locks your files, changing their extensions (e.g., .docx becomes .locked).
• The Ransom Note: A message appears on your screen with instructions on how to pay—usually in Bitcoin—to get a decryption tool.

Paying the ransom is never recommended, as it doesn't guarantee you'll get your files back and identifies you as a "willing payer" for future attacks. The best recovery path involves:

• Off-site Backups: Restoring from a clean, disconnected backup is the only 100% effective recovery method.
• EDR Rollback: Some advanced security tools can "undo" the encryption by restoring files from local shadow copies before they were locked.
• Decryption Tools: Occasionally, security researchers find flaws in a specific ransomware's code and release free "decryptors."

The WatchGuard Ransomware Tracker is a comprehensive, public threat intelligence database maintained by the WatchGuard Threat Lab. Its primary goal is to provide a real-time and historical view of the global ransomware landscape, helping security professionals and the public understand active threats.

Here is a breakdown of what the tracker provides:

1. Active Threat Cataloging

The tracker maintains an exhaustive list of ransomware strains (e.g., Akira, RansomHub, 0mega). For each entry, it typically tracks:

• First and Last Seen: When the ransomware was first identified and the date of its most recent activity.
• Status: Whether the group or strain is currently "Active" or has gone dormant.
• Lineage & Aliases: Any connections to other ransomware families or previous names the group used.

2. Technical Intelligence

For many major ransomware variants, the tracker provides a "deep dive" into how the malware operates, which can be critical for defense. This includes:

• Extortion Types: Details on whether the group uses "Double Extortion" (encrypting files and stealing data to leak later).
• Encryption Methods: Information on the specific algorithms used (e.g., AES-256 or ChaCha20) and the keys involved.
• Communication Channels: Links to the group’s TOR-based "leak sites," Telegram channels, or specific identifiers like Tox IDs.

3. Global Victim Tracking

The tool features a Ransomware Tracker Map that visualizes the prevalence of attacks by country. It aggregates data on:

• Total Tracked Victims: The number of confirmed organizations hit by ransomware.
• Total Active Groups: The number of unique criminal organizations currently operating.
• Decryptor Availability: It highlights whether a free decryptor exists (often via the No More Ransom project), which can save a victim from paying a ransom.

4. Strategic Insights

The tracker feeds into WatchGuard’s broader "Cybersecurity Hub," connecting real-time data with their quarterly Internet Security Reports. This allows users to see trends, such as:

• Whether ransomware volume is increasing or decreasing in a specific region.
• The shift from network-based attacks to endpoint-focused attacks.
• The rise of "Ransomware-as-a-Service" (RaaS), where developers lease their code to other criminals.