November 20, 2023 at 03:46PM
A new variant of the Phobos ransomware has emerged, attempting to frame the VX-Underground malware-sharing collective. This variant appends the email address [email protected] and the extension ‘VXUG’ to encrypted files, while ransom notes make reference to the group. Threat actors sometimes taunt security researchers and organizations in their malware and ransomware, either in a good-natured or malicious manner.
Key takeaways from the meeting notes:
1. A new variant of the Phobos ransomware has surfaced, and it attempts to frame the VX-Underground malware-sharing collective.
2. Phobos ransomware is a ransomware-as-a-service that originated from the Crysis ransomware family. It involves a group of threat actors managing the ransomware’s development and encryption process.
3. Although Phobos has been in operation for some time, it has not been known for conducting large-scale attacks and demanding hefty ransoms.
4. Despite not being an “elite” operation, Phobos maintains a significant presence, accounting for 4% of submissions to the ID Ransomware service in 2023.
5. The new variant of Phobos appends a unique string to encrypted files, making it appear as if VX-Underground was behind the attack.
6. Phobos creates two ransom notes, one in text format and another in HTA format, with customized content referencing VX-Underground.
7. Threat actors often monitor and taunt the cybersecurity community through their malware and ransomware creations, sometimes in good-natured ways and other times with malicious intent.
8. Malware developers and researchers sometimes become targets of taunting or abuse by threat actors, as seen in previous instances mentioned in the meeting notes.
9. The Azov Ransomware claimed to have been created by various individuals involved in the cybersecurity community, including the recipient of these meeting notes (BleepingComputer) and others, encouraging victims to contact them for a decryption key.
10. While most taunting is harmless, it can sometimes turn nasty, leading to potentially harmful consequences in certain cases.