Cybersecurity officials warn against potentially costly Medusa ransomware attacks

Date:

Share post:


LOS ANGELES (AP) — The FBI and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are warning against a dangerous ransomware scheme.

In an advisory posted earlier this week, government officials warned that a ransomware-as-a-service software called Medusa, which has launched ransomware attacks since 2021, has recently affected hundreds of people. Medusa uses phishing campaigns as its main method for stealing victims’ credentials, according to CISA.

To protect against the ransomware, officials recommended patching operating systems, software and firmware, in addition to using multifactor authentication for all services such as email and VPNs. Experts also recommended using long passwords, and warned against frequently recurring password changes because they can weaken security.

Medusa developers and affiliates — called “Medusa actors” — use a double extortion model, where they “encrypt victim data and threaten to publicly release exfiltrated data if a ransom is not paid,” the advisory said. Medusa operates a data-leak site that shows victims alongside countdowns to the release of information.

“Ransom demands are posted on the site, with direct hyperlinks to Medusa affiliated cryptocurrency wallets,” the advisory said. “At this stage, Medusa concurrently advertises sale of the data to interested parties before the countdown timer ends. Victims can additionally pay $10,000 USD in cryptocurrency to add a day to the countdown timer.”

Since February, Medusa developers and affiliates have hit more than 300 victims across industries, including the medical, education, legal, insurance, technology and manufacturing sectors, CISA said.



Source link

Alexandra Williams
Alexandra Williams
Alexandra Williams is a writer and editor. Angeles. She writes about politics, art, and culture for LinkDaddy News.

Recent posts

Related articles

NASA's stuck astronauts welcome their newly arrived replacements to the space station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Just over a day after blasting off, a SpaceX crew capsule arrived...

Here are storm shelters opening across metro Atlanta

Several counties across metro Atlanta are opening emergency storm shelters ahead of severe storms moving in overnight.Severe...

Missouri prosecutor declines to charge a police officer who shot and killed a woman and infant

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — A prosecutor has declined to file criminal charges against a Missouri police officer...

Eight dead, dozens injured in 71-vehicle accident during dust storm in western Kansas

Eight people died and dozens more were injured in what appears to be one of the deadliest...

Canada reconsidering multi-billion dollar defense deal with the US

Amid heightening tensions with its neighbor to the south, Canada is reconsidering a multi-billion dollar defense deal...

Staten Island cops responding to gun call crash into store

A pair of Staten Island police officers responding to an emergency call were rushed to the hospital...

Donald Trump Reacts After Reporter Hits Him in Face With Microphone

Originally appeared on E! OnlineBoom went the mic at President Donald Trump's latest press conference...straight to his...

Preacher doesn't flinch as activist points apparent gun at his head

Unfazed and unshaken.Shocking video has been released showing the moment a pastor had an apparent gun pointed...