Publishing the keys should render existing versions of the ransomware far less dangerous for victims.
What happens when malware retires? In the case of ransomware package GandCrab, the whole world learns your secrets. In a July 15 announcement, the FBI shared the decryption keys for multiple versions of GandCrab, rendering future attacks using these versions little more than an annoyance to their victims.
The keys' release follows a June 1 announcement from GandCrab developers that they were shutting down the criminal network and retiring after earning, they claim, more than $150 million from the roughly 18 months GandCrab was in operation. That's out of more than $2 billion in claimed earnings from the entire GandCrab network.
While existing strains of GandCrab have been rendered less dangerous with the release of the keys, researchers and law enforcement agencies are warning that new strains, with new encryption keys, are likely to be developed in the future.
Black Hat USA returns to Las Vegas with hands-on technical Trainings, cutting-edge Briefings, Arsenal open-source tool demonstrations, top-tier security solutions, and service providers in the Business Hall. Click for information on the conference and to register.
About the Author(s)
You May Also Like
Guarding the Cloud: Top 5 Cloud Security Hacks and How You Can Avoid Them
April 4, 2024Cybersecurity Strategies for Small and Med Sized Businesses
April 11, 2024Defending Against Today's Threat Landscape with MDR
April 18, 2024Securing Code in the Age of AI
April 24, 2024
Black Hat USA - August 3-8 - Learn More
August 3, 2024Cybersecurity's Hottest New Technologies: What You Need To Know
March 21, 2024Black Hat Asia - April 16-19 - Learn More
April 16, 2024