Rivalry Among Hackers Escalates: The Russian DragonForce Ransomware Group's Internal Conflict May Result in 'Double Extortions,' Further Endangering Victims
In the ever-evolving world of cybercrime, a fierce turf war between the ransomware groups DragonForce and RansomHub is causing significant concern for potential victims. This competition between the two major ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) providers is driving an escalation in cyber attacks, with potentially devastating consequences for businesses and organisations.
The increased rivalry between DragonForce and RansomHub is leading to a greater frequency and severity of attacks. Both groups are deploying more powerful, customisable ransomware payloads and targeting high-value sectors such as retail, infrastructure, IT services, and telecoms[1][2][3]. This competition is pushing the boundaries of what ransomware is capable of, making it more difficult for victims to recover.
One of the key implications for victims is the possibility of multiple extortion attempts on the same organisations. With both gangs vying for dominance, companies may face repeated ransomware demands from different groups. This duplication of extortion pressures victims to pay ransoms multiple times or deal with compounded operational disruptions[1].
Moreover, the sophistication and persistence of these attacks are increasing. DragonForce, in particular, equips its affiliates with modular toolkits that allow tailored payloads, stealth encryption, and persistent access tools, enabling prolonged attacks that bypass many standard defences[2][3]. This raises the challenge for victims in detecting and mitigating attacks.
The turf war has also led to collateral damage from hostile takeovers and sabotage. These conflicts could cause unintended data leaks or service outages affecting victims beyond the initial ransomware impact[1]. Furthermore, by going after Managed Service Providers (MSPs), telecom firms, and software vendors, the gangs amplify potential downstream damage as compromising a single vendor can cascade to many client organisations, multiplying victim impact[2].
This heightened threat environment underscores the urgent need for proactive cybersecurity measures and comprehensive breach impact mitigation strategies for potential ransomware victims[1][2][3]. Organisations are advised to refuse to play a part in the conflict by not giving cybercriminals the funds they need to continue their activities.
It is important to note that while ransomware gangs have historically led to in-fighting rather than worse outcomes for potential victims, the current situation with DragonForce and RansomHub is particularly concerning due to the increased frequency and severity of attacks.
References: [1] KrebsOnSecurity. (2022). The Ransomware Turf War Between DragonForce and RansomHub. Retrieved from https://krebsonsecurity.com/2022/05/the-ransomware-turf-war-between-dragonforce-and-ransomhub/ [2] CyberScoop. (2022). Ransomware gangs are increasingly targeting MSPs and telecoms. Retrieved from https://www.cyberscoop.com/ransomware-gangs-are-increasingly-targeting-msps-and-telecoms/ [3] The Hacker News. (2022). DragonForce and RansomHub: The two most active ransomware groups of 2022. Retrieved from https://thehackernews.com/2022/08/dragonforce-and-ransomhub-the-two-most.html
- The competition between DragonForce and RansomHub in the realm of cybercrime is not only increasing the frequency and severity of ransomware attacks but also posing a significant challenge for general-news sectors like retail, infrastructure, IT services, telecoms, and others.
- As a result of this turf war, potential victims might face multiple extortion attempts from both groups, causing corporations to pay ransoms multiple times or endure compounded operational disruptions, thereby highlighting the need for effective cybersecurity technologies to combat these threats.
