Focus On Black Basta Ransomware

Uploaded on 2024-05-20 in TECHNOLOGY--Resilience, NEWS-Cybersecurity News, FREE TO VIEW

The Black Basta ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operation has targeted more than 500 private industry and critical infrastructure entities in North America, Europe, and Australia since its emergence in 2022. Its affiliates have targeted over 500 private industry and critical infrastructure entities, including healthcare organisations, in North America, Europe, and Australia.

Now, the US Cyber Defense Agency, Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) the FBI and other agencies are encouraging organisations to review and implement the mitigations provided in a joint Cyber Security Advisory to reduce the likelihood and impact of Black Basta and other ransomware incidents.

Ransomware is a type of malware designed to encrypt files on a device, rendering them and the systems that rely on them unusable. Malicious actors then demand ransom in exchange for decryption. The CISA Advsisory aims to provide cyber security defenders with tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by known Black Basta ransomware affiliates and identified through FBI investigations and third-party reporting.

Current investigations indicate that Black Basta is a Russian-speaking group and in the Russian language the term is slang for 'stop', 'that's enough', or 'I quit'.

Over time, malicious actors have adjusted their ransomware tactics to be more destructive and impactful and have also exfiltrated victim data and pressured victims to pay by threatening to release the stolen data. The application of both tactics is known as “double extortion.” In some cases, malicious actors may exfiltrate data and threaten to release it as their sole form of extortion without employing ransomware.

Like most cybercriminals, Black Basta is primarily financially motivated and the group is known to demand large sums in ransom - sometimes millions of dollars. Operators in the group have focused their interest in specifically targeting English-speaking countries, which might possibly suggest a political motive for their criminal exploits.

CISA | CISA | Hacker News | US Dept. Health & Human Services |

Image: Ideogram

You Might Also Read:

Quadruple Extortion Ransomware:

___________________________________________________________________________________________

If you like this website and use the comprehensive 7,000-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.